According to statistics, there are currently 64 football fields in Điện Biên province. However, only 23 of them are artificial turf fields, while the rest are dirt or natural grass fields that have not been properly maintained. Moreover, these fields are mostly concentrated in central communes and wards, areas with better socioeconomic conditions compared to remote and mountainous communes. In reality, in many highland communes, football enthusiasts, especially children, still have to play informally on dirt patches, wild grass fields, in front of their homes, or on harvested rice fields. These harsh conditions not only affect playing quality but also pose numerous injury risks.

Lỳ Đợ Hùng, from Tả Kố Khừ hamlet, Sín Thầu commune, has participated in many football tournaments organized by the former Mường Nhé district. Yet, for many years now, there has not been a single standard football field in his commune. Every time a tournament approaches, he and his teammates pack up and head to Mường Nhé commune a week early to train and compete.

Hùng shared: “There’s no football field in our commune, so whenever there’s a tournament, we have to go to the central commune to train and play. Because of the lack of fields, football isn’t very active here. We only form a team when there’s a tournament, otherwise, we mostly play other sports...”

It’s not just men, even women are passionate about football. On March 8, Pu Nhi commune organized a friendly women's football match between teams Nậm Ngám A and Nậm Ngám B. However, due to a lack of facilities, the commune had to use an empty lot near the local market, with makeshift bamboo goalposts. Because it was a dirt field, the uneven surface made it difficult for many of the amateur female players. Still, the match was a great success, bringing joy to the participants, especially the female players, who were able to indulge their love for the sport.

Lầu Thị Sua, a player from Nậm Ngám B, Pu Nhi commune, shared: “We were very happy and proud to take part in this match. It was an opportunity for us to exercise, connect, and demonstrate solidarity. Even though the field wasn’t ideal, we gave it our all and scored some beautiful goals. In the future, we hope to have more standard football fields for training and competition, contributing to the development of sports in our commune.”

The stories from Sín Thầu and Pu Nhi are just two among many from rural communes, where limited land, difficult terrain, and economic conditions make building football fields a real challenge. This not only stifles passion for the sport but also hampers the broader development of physical training and sports, forcing locals to turn to activities that require less space. To keep football dreams alive in Điện Biên, the support of local authorities, philanthropists, and society as a whole is essential.

Socialization is a key solution, mobilizing investment to build more artificial turf fields or upgrade existing ones to meet standards. Importantly, specific projects should target highland communes. At the same time, flexible planning is needed to make the most of available land for building football fields, even if only mini-sized ones, to meet urgent local demand. Where local fields are not yet available, it is also important to create opportunities for teams, especially children in remote areas, to travel and participate in tournaments or friendlies on higher-quality fields. This would not only motivate them, but also help them gain experience and maintain their passion for sports.