At 22 years old, Pham Ly Duc views his call-up to the Vietnam national team as a valuable chance to learn, improve himself, and hopefully make his debut appearance.
Pham Ly Duc, born in Tay Ninh, is a product of the Nutifood JMG academy. He played two seasons in Vietnam’s National First Division for Ba Ria Vung Tau before joining U21 Hoang Anh Gia Lai, where he helped the team win the national U21 championship in 2024.
For the 2024-2025 V-League season, the 1.82m-tall center-back was promoted to Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s first team. He quickly secured a starting spot, playing all 16 matches so far, scoring twice, and providing one assist. His strong performances caught the attention of head coach Kim Sang-sik, leading to his first national team call-up.
“As a young player, I’m very happy to be here with the national team alongside the senior players,” Ly Duc said before the training session on March 15. “At first, I was nervous, but thanks to the support from my teammates both on and off the field, I adapted quickly. Everyone is very friendly and has taught me valuable lessons.”
In the training camp in Binh Duong, Ly Duc shares a room with senior teammate Chau Ngoc Quang, just as they do at Hoang Anh Gia Lai. As a center-back, he idolizes Spanish defender Sergio Ramos. Within the national team, he enjoys interacting with the experienced defenders.
“I recognize my weaknesses, so I often seek advice from players like Duy Manh, Thanh Chung, and Tien Dung to improve my skills,” he said. “Of course, everyone wants to start, but I understand that I’m still young. My priority is to work hard, prove myself, and earn the coach’s trust.”
Pham Ly Duc was named after legendary Vietnamese bodybuilder Ly Duc, who placed fourth in the world and won five consecutive Asian gold medals from 1997 to 2001, along with four Southeast Asian gold medals and a gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games.
With his energetic, intelligent playstyle, strong physical duels, and good reading of the game, Ly Duc is seen as a key prospect for Vietnam’s U22 team at the 2025 SEA Games. At the senior level, young talents like him bring a fresh dynamic and could be part of coach Kim Sang-sik’s long-term plans.
“The training program at the national team is different from my club, so I’m always trying to adapt,” he shared. “The senior players have taught me a lot about marking and communication on the field. That’s why I see every day here as an important learning experience.”
During this March training camp, Vietnam will play a friendly against Cambodia on March 19 before facing Laos in their opening match of the final round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers on March 25, both at Go Dau Stadium. Tickets for both matches have sold out online, while in-person ticket sales will take place at Go Dau Stadium on March 16 and at Thong Nhat Stadium on March 17.
Vietnam is in Group F of the final Asian Cup qualifiers, along with Nepal, Malaysia, and Laos. After the opening match against Laos, the team will play Malaysia (away, June 10), Nepal (home, October 9), Nepal (away, October 14), Laos (away, November 18), and Malaysia (home, March 31, 2026).
Coach Kim and his squad aim to advance past the final qualifiers and secure Vietnam’s third consecutive Asian Cup appearance after 2019 and 2023. In 2019, Vietnam reached the tournament by finishing as one of the top six second-placed teams in the final qualifiers, competing in a group with Jordan, Afghanistan, and Cambodia. In 2023, the team qualified early after reaching the third round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
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