November 18: Xuan Son is not sure to start, Hanoi keeps Van Tung
Vietnam national team before the match against Laos: Xuan Son is not sure to start; Hanoi FC extends Van Tung's contract until 2031; Vietnam temporarily moves up to 110th place according to Football Ranking.
Right before the rematch with Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, the Vietnam national team is facing an important personnel change: Nguyen Xuan Son is not sure to start. On the same day, Hanoi FC decided the long-term future of Nguyen Van Tung until 2031, while according to Football Ranking, Vietnam temporarily rose to 110th in the world thanks to the missteps of its competitors. In the region, U22 Korea received a sad record before meeting U22 Vietnam; Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club was awarded 300 million VND by the VFF after reaching the quarter-finals of the AFC Women's Champions League early.
Nguyen Xuan Son left open his starting position against Laos
Nguyen Xuan Son’s ability to start the match against Laos is a question mark. According to the records from the tactical training sessions, coach Kim Sang Sik has not placed the Brazilian player in the main squad in both the team divisions: one at Viet Tri Stadium and one in Vientiane.
This move shows that the coaching staff prioritizes stability in the current squad before a potentially risky away match. The final decision will likely depend on the coaching staff's perception of Xuan Son's playing rhythm and ability to integrate in a match that may require high tactical discipline from the start.
Nguyen Hai Long warns: the second leg will be different
Against an opponent who lost 0-5 in the first leg, Nguyen Hai Long assessed that the return match “will be completely different” when Laos plays at home and has made progress. According to this midfielder, the coaching staff has prepared tactical plans based on detailed analysis of the opponent, in which concentration and proactive spirit are the keys to aiming for 3 points and avoiding unwanted surprises.
Hanoi FC keeps Nguyen Van Tung until 2031
Hanoi FC announced a long-term contract with striker Nguyen Van Tung until 2031 (6 years). This is a strategic deal and sets a record for the duration of a contract with a domestic player of the Capital team, reflecting the belief in the development potential of this striker.
In terms of operations, "tying down" the main attacking factor allows the team to be more proactive in personnel planning, thereby stabilizing the long-term competition roadmap.
Vietnam temporarily ranked 110th according to Football Ranking
Before taking the field against Laos, the Vietnam national team had benefited from the simulated rankings of Football Ranking (based on the official calculation of FIFA), temporarily rising 1 place to 110th in the world. The reason came from the unfavorable results of direct competitors in the international matches.
- Tanzania lost 3-4 to Kuwait, lost 5.86 points and dropped 5 places.
- Kenya lost 0-1 to Equatorial Guinea, losing 4.58 points and dropping 4 places.
These developments indirectly improve Vietnam's position even without competing.
U22 Korea sets sad record before meeting U22 Vietnam
For the first time since 2004, a South Korean men’s team at any level has lost two consecutive games to Chinese representatives. The streak began with a 1-0 defeat at the CFA Team China friendly in March and continued at the 2025 Panda Cup with a 2-0 loss. Both of the most recent goals came from striker Behram Abduweli.
In terms of psychology, this losing streak puts U22 Korea in a position where they have to react immediately before facing U22 Vietnam. This is a context that forces them to tighten their competition discipline, while Vietnam has the basis to read their opponents from the weaknesses that have just been revealed.
Malaysia U23 criticized for wasting FIFA Days
Malaysian football legend Datuk Jamal Nasir has been outspoken in his criticism of the national U23 team’s preparations under coach Nafuzi Zain. He said that not taking advantage of the FIFA Days in November to call up, test and build the squad was a “serious waste” that could directly affect the results at the 33rd SEA Games.
Datuk Jamal Nasir stressed: this is valuable time for the team building process, and skipping it will make the team rush towards the big goal.
Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club was awarded 300 million by VFF, entering the Asian quarter-finals early
The Vietnam Football Federation sent a congratulatory letter and awarded 300 million VND to the HCMC Women's Club after the team quickly qualified for the quarter-finals of the AFC Women's Champions League 2025/26. Chairman Tran Quoc Tuan signed the award decision to encourage the team.
The Vietnamese champion team won both first matches: 1-0 against Stallion Laguna (Philippines) and 2-0 against Lion City Sailors (Singapore), achieving 6 absolute points and securing a place in the group of 8 strongest teams, with one match left to play against Melbourne City (Australia).
Quick Corner – Highlights
- 0-5: First leg score Vietnam - Laos.
- 2031: Nguyen Van Tung's new contract term with Hanoi FC (6 years).
- 110: Vietnam's temporary position according to Football Ranking.
- 2004: The most recent milestone before South Korea lost two consecutive matches against the Chinese representative.
- 300 million VND: VFF bonus for HCMC women's club.
