From Rio to Los Angeles: South American Women's Volleyball and Strategic Lessons for Vietnam

When the opening whistle sounds in Rio de Janeiro, few Vietnamese fans notice that Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia are entering a tournament that could shape the world of women's volleyball for the next three years. The South American Women's Volleyball Championship is not merely a regional competition; it is a gateway to the FIVB Women's Volleyball World Cup 2027 and beyond to Los Angeles 2028. As someone who has followed Vietnamese women's volleyball for nine years, I see many parallels with our journey—teams often underestimated, yet quietly building a generation that knows how to make a difference. Women's volleyball in South America has always lived in the shadow of football. When thinking of Brazil, the world imagines football legends, while the golden girls on the volleyball court are often forgotten. Yet Brazil is one of the most impressive powerhouses in women's volleyball history, having stood atop Olympic and World Championship podiums multiple times. Argentina and Colombia, though lacking such a pedigree, are emerging thanks to structured youth development strategies. The CSV organizing a pre-World Cup tournament in Rio with these three teams is a clear signal of the region's volleyball transformation. According to current FIVB rankings, Brazil still leads the world group. But numbers show only part of the picture. What I focus on is the growth pace of Argentina and Colombia. Over the last five years' head-to-head data, Argentina has significantly narrowed the gap with Brazil, especially in youth tournaments and friendly matches. Colombia, with a new generation, has caused surprises in continental competitions. Analysts often miss this: a team with a lower ranking can, if they organize their defense and quick counterattacks well, pressure any opponent. During an U23 match between Argentina and Brazil, I noticed the difference lies not in individual skill but in game reading and tactical flexibility. Brazil still has powerful wing spikers, but Argentina developed a distributed setting system that forces opponents' blockers to spread out, creating gaps in the middle that they exploit with delicate drop shots. Unfortunately, such technical details rarely appear in media analyses, which only focus on final outcomes. Looking at Vietnamese women's volleyball, we face a similar reality. We have progressed in Southeast Asia, but internationally, we are still rated lower than Japan, Thailand, or Korea. However, data from SEA Games and Asian Games shows we are not far behind in reception rate and attack efficiency. The problem lies in mental strength and maintaining consistency over three sets. We can learn from Argentina—a team without superior height but always maintaining tempo and pressuring opponents' block. More importantly is how we view success. If we only rely on FIVB rankings, we may become complacent when beating weaker regional teams. But as I have witnessed, rankings reflect the past, not potential. Brazil may be third in the world, but if they do not improve back-court defense, they can lose to a better-organized team. This has happened in World Grand Prix, where teams like the Netherlands or Turkey created major upsets. Officiating and transparency in tournaments is a topic I always follow. The challenge system in volleyball is widely used, but contentious situations remain. In continental championships like the CSV Championship, the lack of on-site explanation mechanisms for referee decisions makes fans—the only ones without access to replays—ignored. Transparency only exists when technology is used not only for reference but also for spectator communication. Seeing FIVB test semi-automated technologies in youth events, I believe the future will be better, but we must advocate for fans' right to know now. Vietnamese women's volleyball stands before a historic opportunity as Los Angeles 2028 approaches. With proper investment in youth and coaching systems, we can dream of a World Cup qualifying spot. But that dream only becomes reality if we look beyond borders, learning not only from Thailand or Japan but also from rising teams like Argentina and Colombia. They lack abundant financial resources but have long-term strategies and self-belief. One major lesson from matches in Rio is the importance of roster depth. Colombia, without a standout star, has a remarkably balanced team. Their coach is not afraid to rotate players mid-match to make a difference. Meanwhile, many Asian teams, including Vietnam, rely too much on one or two outstanding individuals. When those individuals face pressure, the whole team collapses. Statistics can tell fascinating stories. In the latest South American Championship, Argentina's reception rate exceeded 55%, while Brazil had only 52%. Yet Brazil won thanks to direct scoring from serves. This shows a team does not need to be perfect defensively if they can pressure from the service line. I have often told young Vietnamese players: never underestimate strong serves, as they can break opponents' entire offense system. Looking at the FIVB ranking table, it is easy to conclude that a lower-ranked team is disadvantaged. However, professionals understand that physical advantages, experience, and home-crowd support are decisive. Brazil has this when playing in Rio, but away from home, can they maintain form? This question reminds me of Vietnamese teams playing abroad, where opponent noise can affect young players' mentality. In this pre-World Cup 2027 tournament, what matters is not just win-loss results but how teams build their style and test new players. Brazil is transitioning generations, with many veterans about to leave. Argentina, with a young roster, aims to assert itself. Colombia is leveraging youth success to create a new wave. What happens in Rio will set the stage for women's volleyball's global landscape in the next decade. Throughout my career, I have witnessed underestimated teams rise to dominance. Thailand's women's volleyball is a prime example, once considered an outsider but now Southeast Asia's top force and regular at world competitions. Vietnam has the potential to do the same, but it requires a concrete data-driven plan and persistence. One of my most interesting observations among South American teams is their frequent use of two-touch plays to relieve pressure. Instead of high sets, they use low, quick passes to create gaps for hitters. This approach is risky but gives them control over match tempo. In Asian tournaments, we rarely see such creativity, as coaches tend to be conservative. It is time to change our thinking and accept risks to progress. The path to Los Angeles 2028 is long, and every tournament is an important test. The South American Championship, though not directly affecting Vietnam, offers insights into how teams worldwide build for an Olympic cycle. If we focus only on friendlies with familiar regional opponents, we will never be best prepared. I hope the Vietnam Volleyball Federation arranges more overseas training camps, facing diverse opponents, to help players broaden and mature. Finally, I want to express grounded optimism. Vietnamese women's volleyball is no longer a small team in Southeast Asia. We have made notable progress and gained international recognition. However, to advance further, we must look outward, learning from success stories like Argentina and Colombia—teams with less tradition but who raised through smart strategy and burning desire. The distance from Rio to Los Angeles is not geographical but a mindset. With thorough preparation and self-belief, I am confident Vietnamese women's volleyball will write our own story, not just regionally but internationally.