According to Mr.Tran Anh Tu, Vice President of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), increasing youth training in combination with utilizing overseas Vietnamese players is the only way for the national men’s team to break into Asia’s top 10 by 2030.
After a tumultuous period under Philippe Troussier, the national team is expected to rediscover its golden era under Kim Sang-sik, a prominent South Korean coach known for his tactical prowess. However, after five months, both results and style of play seem to show little difference. Tran Anh Tu shares his thoughts on the current situation and VFF’s strategies moving forward.
Kim Sang-sik took over in May 2024, succeeding Troussier, and had only a month to prepare for the final two matches in the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The team managed a narrow 3-2 win over the Philippines at home but fell 1-3 away to Iraq. While Kim couldn’t make an immediate impact, his efforts, alongside those of the coaching staff and players, were recognized, especially given that he was still in the process of rebuilding the squad and its playstyle.
With the V-League 2023-2024 season concluding and the subsequent hiatus, Kim had no opportunity to evaluate players through official matches. Therefore, the squad in September comprised mostly of players who had experience playing together in recent years. Nonetheless, Vietnam’s football federation is looking ahead and introducing younger talents such as defenders Nguyen Thanh Binh, Phan Tuan Tai, midfielders Nguyen Van Truong, and Hai Long, and strikers like Nguyen Van Tung and Bui Vi Hao.
As the 2024-2025 V-League season kicked off on September 14th, Kim will now have more chances to observe players and make necessary adjustments to strengthen the squad.
Looking Toward World Cup 2030
Vietnam’s chances of competing in the 2026 World Cup are no longer viable, but the VFF has a long-term plan with its sights set on the 2030 tournament in Saudi Arabia. According to Tran Anh Tu, the national team aims to be among the top 10 in Asia by 2030 and to compete for a World Cup spot. In the meantime, goals are set to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup and secure at least one ASEAN championship title.
Despite current challenges, VFF continues to follow the roadmap set forth in its strategic development plan, which includes a focus on international events like the 2030 World Cup, the 2027 and 2031 Asian Games, and the 2028 and 2032 Olympic Games.
Leveraging Overseas Vietnamese Talent
Indonesia has recently made headlines for their success in utilizing naturalized players, with many coming from European leagues. Their lineup now often features only one or two native Indonesians, with most players having Dutch heritage. This approach has elevated their competitiveness, enabling them to reach the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and even holding Australia and Saudi Arabia to draws.
While Vietnam cannot directly adopt the Indonesian model, VFF has developed a policy that allows V-League and First Division teams to register two non-citizen Vietnamese players per season. The key challenge, according to Tran, is whether overseas Vietnamese players want to play in Vietnam and if the domestic leagues offer enough appeal. He believes improving the quality of the V-League will help address this challenge.
As of now, there are around 10 overseas Vietnamese players competing in the 2024-2025 V-League, including well-known names like goalkeeper Dang Van Lam, Nguyen Filip, and notable non-citizen players such as Kyle Colonna (Hanoi FC), Jason Quang Vinh Pendant (Hanoi Police FC), and Patrik Le Giang (Ho Chi Minh City FC).
Developing Youth Players
While tapping into the overseas Vietnamese talent pool is part of the strategy, developing homegrown players remains crucial. FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) emphasize youth development as the cornerstone of sustainable growth. Vietnam has seen success in this area in recent years, with teams qualifying for multiple youth-level continental tournaments.
To continue nurturing talent, VFF invests heavily in its U22 squad, which will compete in the 2025 SEA Games, through training camps in countries like Japan, UAE, and Qatar. Many U22 players have already competed at higher levels, such as Khuat Van Khang and Bui Vi Hao at the U23 Asian Cup.
Despite challenges, VFF remains committed to developing youth talent and believes that these efforts, in combination with recruiting overseas Vietnamese players, will help the national team achieve its ambitious goals.
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