Since the North Vietnam football team was not recognized by international federations such as FIFA, the AFC, or the International Olympic Committee, the only international competition it ever took part in was the football tournament of the Games of the New Emerging Forces (GANEFO), whose organizing body was friendlier toward the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Due to the North Vietnam football team not being recognized by global sports bodies like FIFA or the Olympics, it could only participate in the Games of the New Emerging Forces (GANEFO). The organizers of GANEFO were more receptive to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam's participation.