Qatar, 31 December 2025 – U23 Vietnam have entered the final phase of preparations for the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 amid a series of worrying injury setbacks that are complicating head coach Kim Sang-sik’s plans.
Goalkeeper Nguyen Tan has unfortunately suffered a shoulder injury and has been forced to withdraw from the squad just days before the tournament. This is a significant loss for the coaching staff, as competition regulations require each team to register a maximum of 23 players, including at least three goalkeepers.
In response, the coaching staff moved quickly to call up goalkeeper Pham Dinh Hai, a promising 19-year-old born in 2006 from Hanoi FC. Standing at 1.85 meters tall, Dinh Hai has previously featured for several Vietnamese youth teams, including the U16, U17, U19 and U20 national sides, and is considered a long-term prospect. He will travel from Vietnam to Saudi Arabia to join the team after U23 Vietnam conclude their training camp in Qatar and move to the official tournament venue on January 2. With this addition, U23 Vietnam’s goalkeeping unit now consists of Tran Trung Kien, Cao Van Binh and Pham Dinh Hai.
Injury concerns do not stop there. During a training session on the afternoon of December 29, forward Nguyen Thanh Nhan suffered a muscle tear and was ruled out of the friendly match against U23 Syria on December 30. The news has raised serious concerns among the coaching staff and fans alike, as Thanh Nhan had only recently returned from a lengthy injury layoff.
At SEA Games 33, the striker made a strong comeback and left a major mark, particularly in the final against hosts Thailand, where he scored the decisive goal in a dramatic 3-2 victory that secured the gold medal for U23 Vietnam.
With this latest injury, Thanh Nhan now faces a real risk of missing the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026, especially with Vietnam’s opening match against U23 Jordan scheduled for January 6. Head coach Kim Sang-sik may be forced to leave him out of the final 23-man squad. At present, the team still has 24 players, following the earlier withdrawal of centre-back Dang Tuan Phong due to injury before the trip to Qatar.
With the tournament fast approaching, these consecutive blows to personnel are posing a serious challenge for U23 Vietnam as they prepare to compete on the continental stage.
Hoang Thai
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