Chương Thị Kiều is absent from the list, missing the SEA Games 33.

Chương Thị Kiều was not included in the shortlist of the Vietnamese women's national team participating in the training camp in Japan from November 21st to 30th, thus officially missing the SEA Games 33 – a tournament where the team aimed to defend their gold medal.

This personnel decision comes shortly after the Ho Chi Minh City women's club concluded Group A of the 2025/26 Asian Women's Club Championship, securing a place in the quarterfinals. Six players from the club were added to the national team: Quách Thu Em, Cù Thị Huỳnh Như, Huỳnh Như, Trần Thị Thu Thảo, Nguyễn Thị Kim Yên, and Trần Thị Kim Thanh. However, center-back Chương Thị Kiều was not included in the squad.

A gap in the center of the defense.

It is currently unclear whether Chương Thị Kiều is experiencing any health issues. In all three matches for the Ho Chi Minh City women's club at the 2025/26 Asian Women's Club Championship, she was a substitute and did not play a single minute. In this context, her absence from the final squad leaves the Vietnamese women's national team's defense facing personnel challenges as they aim to defend their title at the SEA Games 33.

For many years, Chương Thị Kiều has been considered the number one central defender in Vietnamese women's football, a key player in the two SEA Games gold medal wins in 2019 and 2021. In the national team's most recent official tournament – ​​the 2025 AFF Women's Cup – she started and played the full 90 minutes in almost every match, contributing to coach Mai Đức Chung's team securing third place overall.

Notable milestones

• November 21st - November 30th: The Vietnamese women's national team travels to Japan for training in preparation for the 33rd SEA Games.
• Additional players from Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club: Quách Thu Em, Cù Thị Huỳnh Như, Huỳnh Như, Trần Thị Thu Thảo, Nguyễn Thị Kim Yên, Trần Thị Kim Thanh; Chương Thị Kiều is not included.
• 2025/26 Asian Women's Club Championship: Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club advances to the quarterfinals; Chuong Thi Kieu was a substitute in all three matches, not playing.
• AFF Women's Cup 2025: Chương Thị Kiều starts and plays the full 90 minutes in almost every match; Vietnam women's national team finishes third.
• SEA Games: Gold medalists in 2019 and 2021; absent from SEA Games 32 due to injury; missed the SEA Games for the second consecutive time.

Impact on the goal of defending the Gold Medal.

The absence of a seasoned central defender, a key player in recent campaigns, creates a challenge in organizing the defense for the Vietnamese women's national team. This area requires stability and leadership – a role that Chuong Thi Kieu has played for many years. With a short training camp in Japan, the team will have to quickly finalize personnel and implement a suitable defensive strategy.

Notably, this could be the last SEA Games of Chương Thị Kiều's career if considering the international competition cycle. Her continued absence, after missing the 32nd SEA Games due to injury, further demonstrates how the central defender's career has been repeatedly affected by physical issues, despite her significant contribution to the team's qualification for the 2023 World Cup.

The personnel picture ahead of the 33rd SEA Games.

While the Ho Chi Minh City women's club has been promptly reinforced after the continental tournament, the absence of Chuong Thi Kieu means that the responsibility for the experienced central defender must be shared. The Vietnamese women's national team still has time to train in Japan to review and finalize the squad before aiming to defend their title at the SEA Games 33.

Information regarding Chương Thị Kiều's health status has not been confirmed. However, the fact that she has not played in the last three club matches and is not included in the final squad list are two important facts indicating a major change in the team's defensive structure for the upcoming campaign.