Hanoi, 5 October 2025 – On the afternoon of October 5, the Vietnam U23 national team held their first training session of the October FIFA Days 2025 camp, running in parallel with the senior national team. This marks another step in the Vietnam Football Federation’s (VFF) long-term preparation plan targeting two major objectives — the 33rd SEA Games and the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals.
With head coach Kim Sang Sik currently leading the national team in two Asian Cup 2027 qualifying matches against Nepal, assistant coach Dinh Hong Vinh has been appointed as acting head coach of the U23 squad for this camp.
According to the schedule, U23 Vietnam will train at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center until October 6 before departing for a training camp in the UAE. During their time there, the team will play two high-quality friendly matches against U23 Qatar on October 9 and 13. These games are part of the football cooperation program between the VFF and the Qatar Football Association established in 2023, providing valuable opportunities for tactical refinement, squad building, and international experience.
In November 2025, U23 Vietnam are also expected to take part in an international tournament in China, organized under a memorandum of cooperation signed between the two football federations in August 2025. The event is set to feature U23 China, U23 Vietnam, and two other strong Asian teams — offering another key preparation milestone before the team’s major assignments at the end of the year.
Speaking before the first session, acting head coach Dinh Hong Vinh emphasized the importance of the upcoming Qatar friendlies: “These two matches will be extremely valuable in evaluating potential players and testing different tactical approaches. The whole team is working hard toward our twin goals — winning the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games and advancing deep into the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup.”
Coach Dinh also shared his assessment of new Vietnamese-German player Vadim Nguyen: “We rate him highly. The coaching staff maintains close coordination with head coach Kim Sang Sik to ensure we select the best possible players for the team.”
Regarding internal organization, the acting coach added: “Whether the camp is short or long, friendly or training-based, I always assign detailed responsibilities to ensure smooth operations and help all staff adapt effectively.”
As for Viktor Le, who joined the squad later than scheduled, coach Dinh confirmed that the player had suffered a minor injury during a club match and faced travel difficulties due to heavy storms: “Viktor arrived this morning and was able to join the session. The staff understand his situation and are giving him support to recover and prepare properly.”
With a busy schedule ahead, U23 Vietnam’s October camp represents not only a crucial phase in player evaluation but also a reaffirmation of the federation’s roadmap to build a strong, competitive generation capable of maintaining Vietnam’s dominance at the regional level and challenging Asia’s elite.
Hong Phuc
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