Hanoi, 30 August, 2025 – Vietnam national football team have made late adjustments to their squad for the September 2025 training camp after three key players, including star midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai, were forced to withdraw due to injuries. Head coach Kim Sang Sik has called up Hoang Anh Gia Lai defender Phan Du Hoc as a replacement.
Just days before the scheduled gathering, Vietnam’s plans suffered a blow when midfielder Doan Ngoc Tan sustained a rib fracture following a heavy collision in Thanh Hoa’s clash against Ha Tinh in round 3 of V-League 2025/2026. Medical reports confirmed that Ngoc Tan would require several months of recovery, ruling him out of national team duty. Adding to the setback, both Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Hai Long were also sidelined after picking up knocks, leaving coach Kim without three important midfield options.
In response, the coaching staff acted quickly to reinforce the squad. The newly added face is Phan Du Hoc, a versatile left-back born in 2001 who has been a consistent starter for Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the domestic league. A graduate of the Hoang Anh Gia Lai JMG Academy’s fourth intake, Du Hoc has previously been involved with Vietnam’s U23 national team before coach Kim’s tenure. On August 29, he officially reported to the team’s training base in Hanoi.
At present, the national team roster is nearly complete, with only a few players yet to arrive from The Cong Viettel and Ho Chi Minh City Police FC, who are engaged in a rescheduled Round 3 fixture of the V-League on the evening of August 29. Once they join, coach Kim will have a full squad at his disposal for the training program.
This September camp forms part of Vietnam’s broader preparation for the final qualification round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, set to continue in October. As such, the focus will not only be on tactical fine-tuning but also on assessing depth and resilience across all positions.
During the training period at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center, the national team will play two internal friendly matches against strong domestic opposition. The first will be against Hanoi Police FC on September 4, followed by a clash with reigning V.League 1 champions Nam Dinh on September 7. Both matches are expected to provide valuable tests, especially given the quality of foreign signings and experienced local players within the two clubs.
Despite the absence of big names like Quang Hai, Vietnam’s coaching staff remain optimistic that the camp will strengthen cohesion and offer opportunities for emerging players such as Du Hoc to prove their readiness at the international level.
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