The captain of Vietnam U22 misses SEA Games 33

20/11/2025 08:00:00 FieldFrenzy

The injury that occurred during the match between Vietnam U22 and South Korea U22 in the final round of the CFA Team China Panda Cup 2025 may prevent midfielder Văn Trường from taking part in SEA Games 33. If this happens, Vietnam U22 will face a major loss in personnel because Văn Trường is the captain and holds a vital role in the team.

Yesterday (19/11), Vietnam U22 returned home after finishing their campaign in the Panda Cup with one win and two losses. According to photos shared by Vietnam U22 defender Lê Văn Hà on his personal social media, Văn Trường’s condition is very worrisome.

The Hanoi club midfielder had to use a wheelchair with his right leg heavily bandaged. Prior to that, Văn Trường suffered an injury to his right knee during an aerial challenge with a South Korea U22 player.

Immediately after leaving the pitch, Văn Trường was rushed to the hospital for medical examination. The initial diagnosis revealed a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. If this diagnosis is confirmed, Văn Trường will not require surgery but will need to undergo rehabilitation for a certain period; however, even then, it will be difficult for him to recover quickly enough to play at the SEA Games.

After Vietnam U22’s return, Văn Trường will be re-examined to definitively assess the severity of his knee injury. Should Văn Trường have to watch from the sidelines at SEA Games 33 and possibly the 2026 AFC U23 Championship finals, coach Kim Sang Sik will face a serious challenge since Văn Trường is a key player for Vietnam U22.

Coach Kim personally appointed Văn Trường as captain of Vietnam U22 for important tournaments in 2025 such as the Southeast Asian U23 Championship and the 2026 AFC U23 qualifiers.

Văn Trường (number 8) plays an extremely important role in Vietnam U22. Photo: Hoàng Linh

Although he has yet to secure a permanent position at his home club Hanoi FC, Văn Trường remains a crucial choice for coach Kim Sang Sik in Vietnam U22, as the midfielder combines ideal physical fitness with being one of the most internationally experienced players in the squad.

If Văn Trường cannot recover in time for SEA Games 33, coach Kim Sang Sik will find it difficult to find a replacement due to the limited remaining preparation time before the tournament.

One possible replacement considered is Thành Trung, but the Ninh Bình club player recently suffered a serious soft tissue injury while competing in the LPBank V-League 2025/26, and it is uncertain whether this Vietnamese overseas midfielder has fully recovered.

In this scenario, coach Kim Sang Sik may need to rely more on Thái Sơn to partner with Xuân Bắc in midfield, but neither player can match Văn Trường’s importance or impact on the Vietnam U22 team.

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