Hot football news afternoon 8/7: Vietnam finalizes plan for ASIAD

Vietnam's U21 team gears up for ASIAD 2026, Thailand reveals roster for ASEAN Championship, Norway stirred up by Sorloth, Spain confronts the "quarterfinal jinx", and Real Madrid contemplates selling Camavinga as part of a team overhaul.

Vietnam U21 aims for ASIAD 2026

VFF has announced the list for the second training camp in 2026 to prepare for ASIAD 20, with the squad gathering from July 29 to August 6. Notably, VFF decided to use the Vietnam U21 instead of the U23 as usual, aiming for long-term development goals for the 2027-2028 period.

The players will be trained and compete for spots in the Asian Games in Japan in September. With good results at the 2026 U23 Asian Cup, the Vietnamese team is likely to be placed in a favorable seed group before the draw on July 23. The coaching staff also leaves open the possibility of adding some over-age players to increase experience for the young squad.

Thailand rejuvenates its squad

The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) has announced the list of 25 players for the 2026 ASEAN Championship , with the highlight being coach Anthony Hudson's strong youth policy. Veterans Chanathip Songkrasin and Theerathon Bunmathan continue to be absent, while many young faces get opportunities, notably 21-year-old midfielder Chawalwit Saeleow from Prime Bangkok club, who plays in the third division.

Nevertheless, the War Elephants still maintain an experienced core with Chatchai Budprom, Pansa Hemviboon, Sarach Yooyen, and Patrik Gustavsson. Thailand will gather from July 14 before embarking on their AFF Cup 2026 campaign, starting with an away match against Laos on July 25.

Sorloth angry with Norway coach

Although Norway caused a shock by eliminating Brazil to reach the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals, internal tension has emerged within the team. Striker Alexander Sorloth publicly expressed dissatisfaction after being substituted by coach Stale Solbakken right after the first half, as he had to play out of position on the wing to make way for Erling Haaland as the central striker. Sorloth's father also voiced support for his son's reaction, while coach Solbakken insisted that the substitution was purely tactical.

Ahead of the major clash with England, Sorloth's future in the starting lineup remains a big question, especially since Oscar Bobb and Andreas Schjelderup have impressed with their performances against Brazil.

Spain faces the "quarterfinal curse"

After defeating Portugal to reach the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals, Spain will face Belgium in a rematch full of history. Despite an impressive run of five unbeaten matches and not conceding a single goal, La Roja still has to confront the curse of the quarterfinals , having been eliminated at this stage four times in the past. Only at the 2010 World Cup did Spain overcome the quarterfinals and subsequently become champions.

Against a soaring Belgium, coach Luis de la Fuente's side relies on collective strength with names like Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Mikel Merino, and a solid defense led by Unai Simón to rewrite history.

Camavinga faces uncertain future

Real Madrid is reportedly planning a major overhaul of their midfield under coach Jose Mourinho, and Eduardo Camavinga has emerged as a prime candidate to leave the Bernabeu. After an inconsistent 2025/26 season, the French midfielder is no longer a priority option as Real builds its midfield around Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Arda Guler, and Bernardo Silva. Nevertheless, Camavinga remains determined to stay and compete for a place, aiming to convince Mourinho.

If Real Madrid receives a reasonable offer and the 23-year-old changes his mind, he will likely become the first player to leave the Royal club during the summer 2026 transfer window.

Football news highlights

The Vietnam national team continues its preparation for the 2026 ASEAN Championship with a friendly match against Yongin FC before embarking on their journey to defend the Southeast Asian throne, starting with a clash against Timor Leste at Chonburi Stadium (Thailand) on July 24.

Meanwhile, the 2026 World Cup heats up as the Egyptian Football Association filed a complaint with FIFA after their loss to Argentina, while Lionel Messi still made the Round of 16 best team thanks to his impressive performance.

In Europe, the transfer market is active with Arsenal closing in on Illan Meslier, Manchester United pursuing Alexis Vossah, Juventus targeting John Stones, and Fenerbahce reaching an agreement to sign Ollie Watkins.