Hanoi, 16 July 2026 – On the evening of July 16, the Vietnam national team received a setback after midfielder Khuat Van Khang was officially ruled out through injury. To reinforce the squad, head coach Kim Sang-sik immediately called up Khong Minh Gia Bao, the in-form defender from Ho Chi Minh City Police FC.
Injuries continue to disrupt Vietnam’s preparations ahead of the international friendly against Myanmar and the upcoming ASEAN Championship 2026. Despite making every effort to recover, Khuat Van Khang was unable to regain full fitness in time for the tournament.
Following consultations with the team’s medical staff, Kim Sang-sik decided to release the 2003-born midfielder from the squad, allowing him to return to The Cong Viettel to continue his rehabilitation and focus on a full recovery. Van Khang becomes the latest player to leave the national team due to injury, following defenders Do Duy Manh and Le Ngoc Bao, who were also forced to withdraw during the training camp.
To replace Van Khang, Kim Sang-sik turned to Khong Minh Gia Bao, who is no stranger to the national team setup. The 2000-born defender was previously called up in November 2025 as part of Vietnam’s preparations for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Laos.
Gia Bao has impressed with his performances for Ho Chi Minh City Police FC, establishing himself as one of the club’s most reliable defenders. His physical presence, aggressive defending, and strong reading of the game have made him a key figure in the team’s back line, earning him another opportunity with the national team.
The defender is expected to join the squad before Vietnam departs for Thai Nguyen on the morning of July 17. Later that day, the team will hold a training session to familiarize themselves with the match venue ahead of an international friendly against Myanmar on July 18 at Thai Nguyen Stadium.
The match will serve as Vietnam’s final dress rehearsal before the ASEAN Championship 2026, giving Kim Sang-sik one last opportunity to assess his squad, fine-tune his tactical plans, and finalize the roster for the regional tournament.
VSN/RPT
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