Youth Power in the Vietnam National Team

The training camp in South Korea serves not just as the final tune-up for the ASEAN Cup 2026, it could also prove to be the strongest transition period for the Vietnamese national team seen in years.

As Coach Kim Sang Sik prepares to cut the squad from 27 to 23 players, the U23 prospects stand on the brink of seizing the positions of their seniors. If they demonstrate their true capabilities, this new generation could well become the core of the team right from the start of their ASEAN title defense.

It is no coincidence that Coach Kim Sang Sik brought so many young players to South Korea. As the Vietnam national team eyes the ASEAN Cup 2026, and further ahead, the Asian Cup 2027 and the 2030 World Cup qualifiers, this is the most opportune moment to accelerate the youth transition more quickly than originally planned.

The three friendlies against Siheung FC, Yongin FC, and Gangwon FC will be the final tests before the South Korean tactician cuts four names to finalize the ASEAN Cup squad. This will also be the moment when many veterans feel, for the first time, the full pressure from their younger teammates.

Notably, across all four lines of the team, young candidates capable of competing fairly have emerged.

In goal, Coach Kim Sang Sik's decision to call up goalkeeper Trung Kien instead of seasoned figures like Dinh Trieu or Nguyen Filip shows this is no longer just a mere 'learning trip'. Trung Kien could well cause a surprise if he continues to display consistency in the matches in South Korea.

In defense, the door is wide open like never before. Duy Manh is still recovering from injury, while Thanh Chung has just finished a season with Hanoi FC that wasn't particularly outstanding. This creates an opportunity for Nhat Minh. The Hai Phong defender has matured rapidly while playing for the Vietnam U23s and in the V-League. Compared to other central defenders like Ngoc Bao, Nhat Minh is praised for his intelligent play. If given a chance in the three upcoming friendlies, it would not be surprising if Nhat Minh secures a starting spot at the ASEAN Cup.

In midfield, the competition is also incredibly fierce. Players like Van Khang and Ngoc My are always ready to step up. Van Khang is no longer just a young talent accumulating experience. After several top-flight seasons, this midfielder possesses abundant physical strength, wide-ranging movement, and increasingly refined tactical thinking. Meanwhile, Ngoc My brings a new energy with his speed and boldness in decision-making.

Perhaps the most noticeable change is in the attack. Nguyen Dinh Bac is emerging as an icon of the new generation. Following a period of outstanding growth in the V-League, the striker born in 2004 has not only improved his finishing but also refined his tactical thinking.

His impressive recent goal-scoring record shows Dinh Bac is ready for the big stage. Coach Kim Sang Sik has also not hidden his intention to make a long-term investment in this striker. Alongside Xuan Son, Tai Loc, and Hoang Hen, Dinh Bac is expected to become Vietnamese football's new attacking star for years to come.

It's not just Dinh Bac; Gia Hung and Viet Cuong also stand before a great opportunity. At 26 years old, both are entering the prime phase of their careers, mature enough in experience yet still driven to prove themselves. This is exactly the type of player Coach Kim Sang Sik highly values, as both provide a balance between youthful energy and competitive composure.

In reality, this current youth transition is not a revolution aimed at erasing the mark of the older generation entirely. Coach Kim Sang Sik still needs the veterans as pillars for expertise and morale. However, unlike before, the seniors will have to genuinely compete to keep their spots.

This is also the most positive signal for Vietnamese football. A strong national team is not one with 11 best individual players, but a collective where every position faces competition.

The ASEAN Cup this year may very well be not just a journey to defend the throne for the Vietnam national team but also a tournament that marks the arrival of a new generation ready to inherit and elevate Vietnamese football further on the Asian map.