'Prodigy' HAGL unexpectedly omitted from Vietnam U19 squad

Forward Tran Gia Bao is surprisingly absent from the Vietnam U19 list. However, it is likely that this forward will be called up during the team's second training week.

On the afternoon of March 13, Japanese coach Yutaka Ikeuchi announced the list of 31 players called up for the Vietnam U19 team to prepare for important objectives in 2026.

This training list gathers many players who have previously represented national youth teams such as Vietnam U16, U17, and U18, including Nguyen Duc Nhat, Le Minh Nhat, Bach Trong Duong, Nguyen Van Quan... Additionally, there are some overseas Vietnamese faces like goalkeeper Nguyen Ba Nhat Ka or forward Antonio Moric.

Nevertheless, the absence of forward Tran Gia Bao (HAGL) surprises many fans.

Tran Gia Bao is considered the new-generation "prodigy" of Gia Lai football. Recently, The Guardian (UK) included this forward's name in the list of the world's 60 most promising young players.

The player born in 2008 officially debuted in V-League at just 16 years old (2024/25 season). In the 2025/26 season, Gia Bao also frequently got opportunities to play in Vietnam's top league, appearing in 13 out of 15 matches as a substitute, notably scoring one goal. At the national team level, Gia Bao also drew attention by scoring against Japan U17 at the 2025 AFC U17 Asian Cup finals.

However, Gia Bao's chance to join the national team is not yet closed. According to information from the Vietnam Football Federation, after about one week of training, the coaching staff will conduct screening, expected to reduce the squad by 10 to 15 players, and simultaneously call up approximately 10 additional players outside the initial list. It is highly likely that Tran Gia Bao will be added in the upcoming training week.

Regarding HAGL, they have only one player included in this list, midfielder Nguyen Chi Huong.