OFFICIAL: Vietnamese diaspora rookie unexpectedly removed from Vietnam national team roster

Patrik Lê Giang, despite being on the initial call-up list for the Vietnam national team, has not completed the FIFA federation transfer process.

Aiming for important international duties during the FIFA Days in March 2026, the Vietnam national team announced a list of 23 summoned players. Notably, this squad gathers many experienced faces and marks the return of key pillars previously absent due to injury.

Initially, HCMC Police Club announced Patrik Lê Giang was on the preliminary list for the Vietnam national team. However, when the official list of 23 players was released by VFF, this Vietnamese-origin goalkeeper did not appear. The Vietnam Football Federation also explained this case:

"Regarding goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang's eligibility after completing nationality procedures, according to current FIFA regulations, this player is currently under review by the relevant national football federations and FIFA regarding the necessary conditions to transfer his representative federation and play for the Vietnam national team."

The case of goalkeeper Lê Giang Patrik has attracted significant attention. This Vietnamese-origin goalkeeper officially obtained Vietnamese citizenship on January 28 after more than three years of living and playing in Vietnam. Completing the citizenship procedure qualifies him to play for the national team and opens up another option for the goalkeeper position. Unfortunately, Lê Giang will have to wait for opportunities in future call-ups.

According to the plan, the Vietnam national team will assemble in Hanoi from March 21. Players participating in the 2025/26 National Cup quarter-finals and the postponed round 13 match of V.League 2025/26 will join the camp later.

During this FIFA Days period, the national team will have an international friendly match against Bangladesh at 7:00 PM on March 26 at Hang Day Stadium (Hanoi), before moving to Ninh Binh to prepare for hosting Malaysia at Thiên Trường Stadium on March 31 within the framework of the final Asian Cup 2027 qualifying round.

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