Hot football news afternoon 22/7: Vietnam national team receives 'special privilege' at AFF Cup 2026

Hanoi welcomes new recruit Bui Ngoc Long, Vietnam national team gets special privilege ahead of AFF Cup 2026, FIFA scores big after World Cup while Man Utd faces significant upheavals.

Ngoc Long arrives in Hanoi

Hanoi continues to affirm its ambition to conquer the V-League 2026/27 when officially recruits winger Bui Ngoc Long from CA TP.HCM. The player born in 2001 is expected to fill the gap left by Pham Tuan Hai thanks to his speed, dribbling ability, and flexibility in attack.

In four seasons wearing the CA TP.HCM shirt, Ngoc Long has played 54 matches, scored 4 goals, provided 4 assists and contributed to the team's victory in the 2025/26 National Cup. Besides this deal, Hanoi also retained captain Do Hung Dung until 2028 and added foreign striker Andrew Jung, showing determination to build a deep enough squad to compete for the V-League title in the new season.

Vietnam national team receives special privilege at AFF Cup 2026

Just a few days before the opening match of AFF Cup 2026, the Vietnam national team draws attention by appearing with a gold patch on the sleeve - a symbol reserved for the defending Southeast Asian champions. This is the second time the Golden Star Warriors have worn this special badge, after AFF Cup 2020 (held in 2021), although the team has won the title three times in 2008, 2018, and 2024.

The reason is that the gold patch was only introduced by the organizers from AFF Cup 2012, with Malaysia being the first team to have it. Not just a detail on the jersey, the gold patch is also a symbol of glory and responsibility, reminding coach Kim Sang-sik and his team to enter AFF Cup 2026 as the reigning regional champions.

FIFA scores big after World Cup

After the 2026 World Cup concluded, not only Spain were crowned champions, but FIFA also became the winner as the tournament set numerous records in commercial and viewership. The first edition with 48 teams attracted more than 6.25 million spectators to the stadiums, with an occupancy rate of 99.7%, while the final between Spain and Argentina had nearly 63 million viewers in the US. FIFA's revenue for the 2023-2026 cycle is predicted to exceed 15 billion USD, the highest in history, far surpassing initial targets. This success reinforces FIFA's confidence in the expanded World Cup model, although the tournament still sparks debate over scheduling, commercial factors, and the possibility of further increasing the number of participating teams in the future.

Martinez gives Man Utd a headache

Manchester United faces a difficult problem when Lisandro Martinez suffered a thigh injury in the 2026 World Cup final and had to leave the pitch just before halftime. The Argentine center-back has been sidelined for more than 600 days due to injuries since joining Old Trafford, leading many fans to doubt his future.

On forums, many opinions call for Man Utd to sell Martinez to find a more reliable center-back, especially since Matthijs de Ligt also frequently has fitness issues. However, parting ways with the Argentine international is not easy because he is currently injured and has only one year left on his contract, allowing other clubs to wait until summer 2027 to sign him for free.

Zirkzee on his way out of Man Utd

Manchester United is likely to part ways with Joshua Zirkzee as Juventus accelerates plans to bring the Dutch striker back to Serie A. According to Italian media, the Turin club has received positive signals from Zirkzee himself, while Man Utd is ready to let him go for around 35-40 million Euros or on loan with an option to buy. Joining Old Trafford for £36.5 million in 2024, Zirkzee has only scored 9 goals in 75 matches, failing to meet expectations. If the deal goes through, the Red Devils will have additional budget to continue upgrading the squad, while Zirkzee will have the chance to regain form in the familiar Serie A environment.

Notable football highlights

Cambodia strengthens its squad ahead of AFF Cup 2026 by calling up for the first time Brazilian-born midfielder Iago Bento Fernandes after completing naturalization. Meanwhile, coach Kim Sang-sik decided to finalize a list of 25 players with the Vietnam national team to defend the Southeast Asian crown.

On the world stage, Lionel Messi was honored by IFFHS as the best player of World Cup 2026, and Nico Williams moved fans by giving his championship gold medal to his mother as a tribute to his family's sacrifices.

In Europe, Man Utd reportedly approached goalkeeper Orlando Gill after his impressive World Cup performance, as the transfer market continues to be active with notable deals involving Man City, Chelsea, Al Hilal, and Aston Villa.