Hot Vietnam football news today 22/7: Vietnam national team finalizes tactics; Hanoi FC unveils French striker

Breaking Vietnam football news July 22: Vietnam team sharpens strategies; Hanoi FC presents new French striker

Vietnam national team perfects tactical approach

The Vietnam national team held its first training session in Chonburi, Thailand, as part of preparations for the opening match against Timor Leste in Group A of the 2026 ASEAN Championship.

The session took place at the Legends Football Academy pitch, a venue personally inspected and selected by team manager Doan Anh Tuan to meet the coaching staff's professional requirements.

With limited time before the match, head coach Kim Sang Sik focused primarily on refining tactical plans. He frequently stopped the session to adjust gameplay execution, ensuring all players were aligned on the tactical approach ahead of match day.

Speaking to the media, young midfielder Nguyen Ngoc My said the team has had more than three weeks of training, including a training camp in South Korea and a friendly against Myanmar, so the squad is in optimal preparation.

Ngoc My affirmed that competition within the team serves as motivation for him to work harder and stand ready to contribute if given the opportunity.

Vietnamese-born defender joins Thep Xanh Nam Dinh

Thep Xanh Nam Dinh FC continues to strengthen its squad ahead of the 2026/27 V.League season by officially signing overseas Vietnamese defender Reece Minh Kai.

Born in 2004, Reece Minh Kai plays as a right-back. The player of Vietnamese-American descent was trained at the Schalke 04 academy in Germany, one of Europe's top youth development systems. After leaving Germany, he gained further experience with AFC Eskilstuna, a club competing in Sweden.

With a strong physical foundation, ability to contribute both offensively and defensively, and experience gained in European football, Reece Minh Kai is expected to bring healthy competition to the right flank of the Nam Dinh side.

The addition of the 22-year-old defender demonstrates Thep Xanh Nam Dinh's determination to enhance squad quality in pursuit of titles in the new season.

HAGL and SLNA secure U21 national semifinal spots

The final two quarterfinal matches of the 2026 National U21 Championship – FPT Play Cup on July 21 determined the complete semifinal lineup. The remaining two berths went to HAGL and SLNA, after Hanoi and The Cong Viettel had already advanced earlier.

In the match between HAGL and PVF, both teams created a tense contest and failed to score in regular time. In the nerve-wracking penalty shootout, the mountain town side showed greater composure to win 4-3 and secure a semifinal spot.

SLNA defeated SHB Da Nang 3-1. The Nghe An side established an early advantage in the first half and maintained control of the game. Although SHB Da Nang pulled one back, Quang Vinh scored in the final minutes to seal a 3-1 victory, making SLNA the last team to join the final four.

The 2026 National U21 Championship semifinals feature four teams: Hanoi, The Cong Viettel, HAGL, and SLNA. These are all traditionally strong youth academies, promising exciting competition for the two spots in the final.

Hanoi FC presents French striker

Hanoi FC officially announced the signing of striker Andrew Jung, further strengthening the squad ahead of the new season.

Born in 1997 in Remiremont, France, Andrew Jung stands 1.92m tall and plays as a center forward. With his physical advantage, the French striker is highly rated for his ability in duels, aerial play, and holding up the ball for teammates.

Last season, Andrew Jung made a strong impression with 16 goals and 2 assists in 33 appearances across the Indonesian league and the AFC Champions League Two. His impressive scoring rate made him one of the notable strikers in Southeast Asia.

Before moving to Indonesia, Andrew Jung played for several clubs in France, Belgium, and Greece. His time playing in Europe helped the 1997-born striker gain experience and refine his ability to perform in various tactical systems.