OFFICIAL: The tallest center-back in the history of the Vietnam national team will miss the AFF tournament.

Dinh Quang Kiet, along with many core members, cannot take part with U19 Vietnam in the 2026 ASEAN U19 tournament.

Just as anticipated, U19 Vietnam will not be able to field its strongest squad at the 2026 Southeast Asian U19 Championship, which is set to take place in Indonesia. Numerous important players of the team are currently occupied with their clubs during the final stretch of the season in V.League, the First Division, and the National Second Division, preventing them from gathering in full.

Among the high-profile absentees is center-back Dinh Quang Kiet, HAGL striker Tran Gia Bao and forward Nguyen Le Phat, who belongs to Ninh Binh. All of them are highly rated and have been key pillars of Vietnam's youth teams in recent years.

Dinh Quang Kiet has attracted significant attention thanks to his height of 1.95 meters, making him the tallest center-back ever to represent Vietnam at any youth level. Born in 2007, he was even called up to the senior Vietnam national team before making his debut with U23 Vietnam, highlighting his immense potential.

In addition to his impressive physique, Quang Kiet also boasts considerable playing experience compared to many of his contemporaries. The HAGL defender appeared in 24 matches last season and has continued to feature regularly this V.League campaign, logging over 15 appearances. Competing consistently at the highest level has accelerated his growth both technically and psychologically.

Meanwhile, Tran Gia Bao was a standout forward for U17 Vietnam at the 2025 AFC U17 Asian Cup finals. The young striker made headlines by scoring against Japan. As for Nguyen Le Phat, he is a promising talent who helped U23 Vietnam win the 2025 ASEAN U23 Championship and claim third place at the 2025 AFC U23 Asian Cup.

The 2026 Southeast Asian U19 Championship will be held from June 1 to June 14 in Indonesia. According to the draw, U19 Vietnam is in Group A alongside hosts Indonesia, Myanmar, and Timor Leste. This competition is seen as a crucial opportunity for the U19 Vietnam coach and his players to prepare for the bigger target: the 2027 AFC U20 qualifiers.