European-class overseas Vietnamese misses out again with Vietnam U23

Midfielder Trần Thành Trung is absent from the Vietnam U23 roster getting ready for the 2026 AFC U23 Championship finals.

On December 22, Coach Kim Sang Sik announced the Vietnam U23 team list gathering to prepare for the 2026 AFC U23 Championship final tournament. It is no surprise that the core of the team consists of 23 players who recently won the gold medal in men’s football at the 33rd SEA Games.

Besides the squad that has proven their skills and competitive spirit throughout the journey to clinch the SEA Games 33 gold, this call-up includes two familiar faces: defender Lê Văn Hà (Hanoi) and striker Bùi Vĩ Hào (Becamex TP.HCM). Both players have frequently participated in recent U23 Vietnam team gatherings and are highly regarded for their ability to adapt to head coach Kim Sang Sik’s tactical philosophy.

Consequently, some players who were previously called up to the U22 Vietnam team during Văn Trường’s injury, such as Đức Việt and Trần Thành Trung, were not recalled. The most unfortunate case is Trần Thành Trung, an overseas Vietnamese star with many promising qualities but lacking luck with coach Kim Sang Sik.

Trần Thành Trung has been repeatedly summoned but has yet to participate in any official tournament with the Vietnam U22/U23 teams. Initially, this overseas Vietnamese midfielder was called to the Vietnam U23 squad preparing for the AFC U23 Championship qualifiers but was cut when the list was finalized.

Later, he was not included in the initial squad preparing for the 33rd SEA Games, then called up as a replacement after Văn Trường’s injury, but was again dropped when the 23-man final roster was confirmed. This time, for the 2026 AFC U23 Championship finals, Thành Trung is also absent.

Born in Bulgaria to a Vietnamese family, Trần Thành Trung holds dual citizenship of Vietnam and Bulgaria. He developed at the prestigious CSKA Sofia academy before moving to Slavia Sofia, one of Bulgaria’s oldest clubs competing in the Bulgarian top league. Recently at Ninh Bình, Thành Trung has gradually secured a starting position.