U23 Vietnam says goodbye to key player ahead of Asiad 2026

Just days before departing for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, the U23 Vietnam national team received bad news: midfielder Nguyen Cong Phuong (20 years old) has been officially ruled out due to injury. According to the coaching staff, Cong Phuong suffered a muscle injury and thigh edema, unable to recover in time for the tournament. This is a significant loss as he was among the 14 most experienced players in the current U23 squad. Immediately, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) adjusted the roster. Instead of adding a player of similar caliber, they urgently called up midfielder Hoang Quang Dung (born 2026, playing for Hue Club – a lower-division side). Quang Dung had been called up to the Asiad preparation squad in late July but lacks experience at high-level youth tournaments. This replacement highlights the thin depth of U23 Vietnam's reserve pool, forcing reliance on lower-league resources. The goalkeeper position is also a thorny issue. Hanoi Club has not agreed to release goalkeeper Pham Dinh Hai for the U23 team. If negotiations fail, U23 Vietnam will have only two registered goalkeepers, creating huge risk at the most sensitive position. VFF Vice President Tran Anh Tu stated: "Replacing a goalkeeper is not simple because specific confirmation of injury status from the organizing committee is required." Thus, the replacement process could take time, affecting the team's departure schedule on September 13. U23 Vietnam assembles on September 12, flies to Japan on September 13, and their opening match against U23 Kuwait is on September 15. This leaves the coaching staff less than four days to finalize tactics and build team cohesion. The concurrent V.League schedule also creates difficulties: some players lack recent match rhythm, impacting fitness. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh faces immense pressure. U23 Vietnam recently won the 33rd SEA Games gold medal and finished third in the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship, raising fan expectations very high. However, with personnel shortages and extremely short preparation time, replicating that success is a huge challenge. Especially, defender Dang Tuan Phong will only join the squad on match day September 15, severely affecting defensive cohesion. In a youth tournament where organization is vital, lack of team training could lead to individual errors in set-piece situations. Overall, U23 Vietnam enters the 2026 Asian Games with multiple stacked difficulties: loss of a key player, goalkeeper crisis, unfavorable training schedule, and extremely tight timeframe. The team will have to rely on fighting spirit and tactical simplification to hope to advance from the group stage. All eyes are on the coaching staff and VFF to resolve outstanding issues, especially the Hanoi Club case. Experts believe that if the goalkeeper impasse is not resolved soon, the team will be in extreme danger with only two goalkeepers for the entire tournament. This is a risk that could derail Coach Dinh Hong Vinh's entire plan. Historically, successful youth teams have thorough preparations, but this time U23 Vietnam is going against that. Nevertheless, the players' spirit remains high. Many young stars like Nguyen Van Tung, Khuat Van Khang, and Phan Tuan Tai are determined to show their ability. Can the red-shirted team surprise in Japan? The answer will come after the match against U23 Kuwait on September 15. The lessons from this Asiad will also serve as a wake-up call for Vietnam's youth development system: better coordination between VFF and clubs is needed, especially for releasing players for tournaments outside FIFA windows. Otherwise, young talents will continue to miss opportunities for international exposure. In conclusion, let's wait and hope for the efforts of Coach Dinh Hong Vinh and his players. The 2026 Asian Games promises many emotions, and U23 Vietnam will certainly fight their utmost for the national flag and colors.