AFC announces decision for Vietnam national team's 'life-or-death' match

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has appointed South Korean female referee Kim Yu-jeong to officiate the match between the Vietnam women's national team and Japan in the final round of Group C of the 2026 Women's Asian Cup.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has just announced the officiating team for the match between the Vietnam women's national team and Japan in the final round of Group C of the 2026 Women's Asian Cup Finals. According to the assignment, South Korean female referee Kim Yu-jeong will be the main referee for the match scheduled at 16:00 on March 10 at Rectangular Stadium (Perth, Australia).

Referee Kim Yu-jeong, born in 1990, was recognized by FIFA as an international referee in 2018. She is one of Asia's most experienced female referees, having officiated in major tournaments such as the 2023 Women's World Cup and the 2022 Women's U20 World Cup. With solid expertise and consistency in crucial matches, this referee is frequently entrusted by AFC and FIFA with duties at high-level competitions.

Notably, Kim Yu-jeong is not an unfamiliar face to the Vietnam women's national team. In the opening match of Coach Mai Đức Chung's team against India on March 4 in Perth, it was this South Korean female referee who officiated the game. At that time, the Vietnam women's national team secured a dramatic 2-1 victory thanks to a brace from forward Ngân Thị Vạn Sự.

Not only experienced in women's tournaments, Kim Yu-jeong also belongs to the rare group of female referees assigned to officiate men's football matches. For the Paris 2024 Olympics, she is included in FIFA's list of referees selected to officiate men's football matches, demonstrating her professional credibility and high regard from international football governing bodies.

According to AFC's assignment, Kim Yu-jeong's assistant referees for this match are Heba Saadieh (Palestine) and Hinthong Supawan (Thailand). The fourth official is Chaisanit Pansa (Thailand). Meanwhile, the VAR room will be overseen by referee Kim Hee-gon (South Korea) along with assistant Muhammad Taqi Aljaafari Bin Jahari (Singapore).

The match against Japan is considered a decisive contest for the Vietnam women's national team in Group C. After two rounds, Coach Mai Đức Chung's team has 3 points and is temporarily ranked third. Despite facing a very strong opponent that has already secured a quarter-final berth, the Vietnam women's national team still has a chance to advance if they achieve a favorable result or ensure a good goal difference in the competition with third-placed teams from other groups.