Hanoi, 24 March 2026 – On the afternoon of March 24, the Vietnam national team trained at the Youth Football Training Center, completing their preparations for the upcoming friendly against Bangladesh on March 26 and the 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Malaysia on March 31.
During this session, coach Kim Sang Sik had a full squad at his disposal as seven players from Hanoi Police FC joined the camp after completing their rescheduled V.League 1 2025/2026 match. Striker Nguyen Xuan Son also returned to full training after two days of individual work, while the late-arriving Hanoi Police FC players focused mainly on light sessions to regain fitness.
The spotlight was on center-back Tran Dinh Trong, who earned his first call-up under coach Kim Sang Sik and marked his return to the national team after nearly four years. His last appearance came in September 2022, when Vietnam defeated Singapore 4–0 in a friendly match.
Dinh Trong’s career had previously been disrupted by a series of serious injuries, including two ACL tears and multiple surgeries involving bone and cartilage. However, after a determined recovery, he regained stability from the 2023/24 season and convinced the coaching staff to give him another opportunity.
Speaking about his return, Dinh Trong said: “I was very happy when I saw my name on the preliminary list, and even more excited when I was officially selected. It has been many years since I last returned to the national team.”
On overcoming injuries, he added: “After everything I went through, my family has been my biggest motivation to regain my form.” Regarding competition for a starting spot, he admitted: “Everyone here deserves their place. I need to work even harder to earn a starting position.”
Despite Vietnam already securing qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup, Dinh Trong emphasized the team’s commitment: “Even though we have qualified, we will still aim to achieve the best possible results.”
According to the schedule, Vietnam will face Bangladesh at Hang Day Stadium on March 26 before hosting Malaysia at Thien Truong Stadium (Ninh Binh) on March 31 in the Asian Cup qualifiers.
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