Bui Vi Hao misses the SEA Games 33 for the third time due to injury.
Vietnam U22 dropped Bui Vi Hao before the SEA Games 33 due to injury; the 22-year-old striker had previously contributed to the AFF Cup 2024 and made his mark upon his return at the Panda Cup 2025.
Bui Vi Hao has been dropped from the Vietnam U22 squad for the 33rd SEA Games, marking the third consecutive time he has missed out on this tournament. Coach Kim Sang-sik made the decision because Vi Hao had just returned from a long-term injury and had not yet reached his best form, despite being highly rated.
A difficult but necessary decision.
Of the five players who had to leave the Vietnam U22 team before the SEA Games, Vi Hao's case was the most talked about. A prolonged injury forced the coaching staff to prioritize immediate readiness for the upcoming tournament. This is a sad ending for a young talent who contributed to Vietnam's journey to winning the 2024 AFF Cup.
Three times missed out on the SEA Games.
- SEA Games 31: At just 19 years old, Vi Hao couldn't compete with prominent strikers like Tien Linh or Nham Manh Dung.
- SEA Games 32: He was dropped from the squad by coach Troussier to make way for Van Tung and Thanh Nhan, despite his positive performance in the V-League at the time.
- SEA Games 33: A long-term injury prevented him from reaching optimal physical condition, leading to coach Kim Sang-sik's decision to drop him.
Three different factors—competition for spots, the coach's philosophy, and injuries—have successively left Vi Hao's SEA Games dream unfulfilled.
A sign of a comeback at Panda Cup 2025
After eight months away from the pitch, Vi Hao worked hard on treatment and training to make a comeback. At the Panda Cup 2025, when he was brought on by head coach Dinh Hong Vinh in the 74th minute of the 1-0 victory against China U22, he immediately made his mark: powerful dribbling, ability to create breakthroughs, and a clear foul in the 84th minute.
The remaining two matches against U22 Uzbekistan and U22 South Korea are considered important tests of readiness, but the recovery process is still not sufficient to convince the coaching staff at the time of finalizing the squad.
Competency framework and room for return
At the national team level, Vi Hao was trusted to play in the 2024 AFF Cup-winning campaign, demonstrating his potential for breakthroughs. His outstanding qualities — speed, diverse finishing ability, intelligent movement, and fierce fighting spirit — remain the foundation for him to compete when in good physical condition.
In the U22 context, the role of an attacking player who can create breakthroughs on the wing or cut inside to break the deadlock is crucial. The lack of time to regain his form after injury is Vĩ Hào's biggest obstacle at this decisive moment, rather than his individual ability.
Impact and the path forward
His absence from the SEA Games 33 marks the end of a challenging journey at the U22 level, but it's not the end. At 22, Vi Hao still has considerable time to prove himself. Under coach Kim Sang-sik, opportunities are always available for young players if they demonstrate ambition and consistent performance.
There's no longer a place for Vi Hao at the SEA Games 33, but the rest of the season and subsequent training camps will be a new test. If he overcomes this difficult period, the door to the national team remains wide open for a striker from Becamex Binh Duong, who has proven he can make a difference when in top form.
