The upcoming ISA 7s World Cup – Hanoi 2026 took a major step toward kick-off on October 17, as Vietnam 365 and the tournament’s organizing committee held an official press conference in Hanoi to announce key details of the international seven-a-side football competition.
The event brought together media representatives, brand partners and international guests for the official group draw and the unveiling of the tournament’s championship trophy, medals and official playing kits.
Scheduled for October 31 and November 1, 2026, at Hoang Mai District Stadium on Linh Duong Street in Hoang Liet Ward, Hanoi, the tournament will feature 20 teams representing international communities across four continents, including expatriates living, studying and working in Vietnam.
20 Teams Drawn Into Five Groups
One of the highlights of the press conference was the live group draw, which placed the 20 participating teams into five groups of four. The lineup brings together national teams and regional selections from Asia, Europe, the Americas and Africa.
The official draw results are as follows:
- Group A: South Korea, Latin America, Denmark and Nigeria
- Group B: England, Vietnam, France and Mexico
- Group C: Ghana, Italy, Japan and Cuba
- Group D: Spain, Brazil, Algeria and Europe
- Group E: Ireland, South Africa, Russia and China
Host nation Vietnam will compete in Group B alongside England, France and Mexico, setting up a challenging group-stage campaign against three international opponents.
The tournament will follow a seven-a-side format, with each team fielding six outfield players and one goalkeeper. After the group stage, the five group winners and the best-performing runner-up will advance directly to the quarter-finals. The remaining four runners-up will compete in playoff matches for the final two knockout-stage places.
A total of 42 matches are scheduled across the two-day competition, culminating in the final on November 1.
Championship Trophy And Prize Money Revealed
The press conference also marked the first official presentation of the tournament’s custom-designed 3D championship trophy, alongside the medals and official team kits.
The competition offers a total of VND 105 million in prize money for the top three finishers. The champions will receive VND 60 million, the championship trophy and gold medals. The runners-up will take home VND 30 million and silver medals, while the third-place team will receive VND 15 million and bronze medals.
Speaking at the event, Alex Castaneda, a representative of the organizing committee, highlighted the tournament’s role beyond the football pitch.
He described ISA 7s World Cup – Hanoi 2026 as an opportunity to strengthen cultural exchange and friendship between international communities and Vietnamese residents. With teams representing different parts of the world, the organizers hope the competition will showcase Hanoi as an open, dynamic and welcoming international city.
Tournament Schedule And Venue
The competition will take place over two days at Hoang Mai District Stadium in Hanoi, with the opening ceremony and group-stage matches scheduled for October 31. The knockout rounds, final, closing ceremony and awards presentation will follow on November 1.
By bringing together 20 teams from diverse international communities, ISA 7s World Cup – Hanoi 2026 aims to combine competitive football with cross-cultural interaction, offering players and spectators an opportunity to connect through sport.
With the group draw complete and the championship trophy officially unveiled, attention now turns to the opening whistle on October 31, when the participating teams begin their pursuit of the inaugural tournament title.
