The Brazilian-born trio of the Vietnam national team will pose a challenge for Indonesia

The Vietnam national team revealed its 25-man roster for the 2026 AFF Cup, featuring four naturalized athletes. Indonesia is advised to keep a close eye on these players.

According to an assessment by Bola, the four naturalized players of the Vietnam national team at the 2026 Asean Cup include goalkeeper Patrik Lê Giang, striker Nguyễn Xuân Son (Rafaelson), attacking midfielder Đỗ Hoàng Hên (Hendrio), and central midfielder Nguyễn Tài Lộc (Geovane Magno).

In this year's tournament, coach Kim Sang Sik has refreshed the attack. Key figures who previously held leading roles, such as Nguyễn Tiến Linh and Phạm Tuấn Hải, are no longer selected.

Instead, the Vietnam national team pins its hopes on the trio of naturalized Brazilian players. Đỗ Hoàng Hên and Nguyễn Tài Lộc are expected to support the attacking front behind Nguyễn Xuân Son, who remains the main spearhead.

Đỗ Hoàng Hên and Nguyễn Tài Lộc are two new faces who have just completed their naturalization procedures. Both have made unofficial debuts in the colors of the Vietnam national team.

They participated in the friendly match between Vietnam and Myanmar at Thái Nguyên Stadium on July 18. In that match, the Vietnam team dominated and secured a convincing 4-0 victory.

Đỗ Hoàng Hên, currently 32 years old, has been playing in Vietnam for five years. Meanwhile, Nguyễn Tài Lộc, also 32, has lived and played in Vietnam for seven years.

Together with Nguyễn Xuân Son, who officially obtained Vietnamese citizenship in November 2024, this trio is expected to form a naturalized "tam tấu" capable of becoming a major threat to any opponent.

The 2026 AFF Cup will take place from July 24 to August 26, 2026. The Vietnam national team is placed in Group A alongside Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, and Timor Leste.

The Vietnam national team will kick off with an away match at Chonburi Stadium, which Timor Leste has chosen as their home ground, on July 24. After that, coach Kim Sang Sik's squad will return to Mỹ Đình Stadium to host Singapore on July 31.

Next, the Vietnam team will travel to Indonesia's stadium before concluding the group stage with a match against Cambodia at Mỹ Đình Stadium on August 7.

The Vietnam national team enters the 2026 AFF Cup with confidence after winning all three friendly matches during their training camp in South Korea, as well as defeating Myanmar 4-0 at home in their final pre-tournament friendly.