Dinh Quang Kiet 1m95 has a good chance of being a main player in U23 Vietnam at SEA Games
U22 Vietnam called up 26 players for Panda Cup 2025, aiming for SEA Games 33. Dinh Quang Kiet, 1m95, started 9 matches for HAGL; Ly Duc only played more than 90 minutes at CAHN, the main player's door is wide open.
The difference in playing tempo is putting Dinh Quang Kiet in a favorable position to compete for a starting position in the U23 Vietnam team at SEA Games 33. The 1m95 tall center back of HAGL has been playing continuously since the beginning of the season, while Ly Duc is having difficulty at CAHN.
Door open for 1m95 center back
On November 6, Coach Kim Sang Sik announced the list of 26 U22 Vietnam players to gather for the 4th session in 2025, preparing for the international football tournament CFA Team China Panda Cup 2025 and towards the 33rd SEA Games taking place in Thailand in December. In the center-back position, Dinh Quang Kiet continued to be called up. The HAGL player was called up to the national team at the end of August and is known as the center-back with the tallest height in the history of the Vietnam national team.
The difference in playing tempo: HAGL vs CAHN
The 3-man defense of U23 Vietnam was once nailed down with Hieu Minh, Nhat Minh and Ly Duc. However, after winning the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, Ly Duc left HAGL to join CAHN and is having difficulty asserting himself.
Since the beginning of the season, Ly Duc has only played 3 matches for CAHN, with a total duration of just over 90 minutes. On the other hand, Dinh Quang Kiet has started all 9 matches for HAGL in the V-League this season, of which 7 matches have played the full 90 minutes. The big difference in playing time is the key factor in the competition for positions.
Selected statistics
| Player | Club | Appearances (V-League) | Minutes of play | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinh Quang Kiet | HAGL | 9 (main) | — | 7 matches played full 90 minutes |
| Ly Duc | CAHN | 3 | More than 90 minutes | Limited competition |
Role and form: why Kiet is holding the advantage
Compared to Ly Duc, Dinh Quang Kiet is less experienced, but playing regularly since the beginning of the season has helped the central defender born in 2007 mature significantly. He plays well, promoting his strengths in aerial combat and showing his fiery playing style. Previously, Kiet was a backup option for Ly Duc at HAGL; after his senior left, he was given the opportunity and is doing well in his replacement role.
With a 3-center-back system, the actual playing state and tempo are often important criteria. From the current data, it is very likely that Dinh Quang Kiet will be considered for a starting position in the U23 Vietnam team at the 33rd SEA Games.
Team background: from Panda Cup 2025 to SEA Games 33
This training session of U22 Vietnam aims to compete at CFA Team China Panda Cup 2025, thereby building personnel for SEA Games 33. The improvement of U23 pillars and performance at the club will be the foundation for the coaching staff's team lineup decisions.
Other positive signals
Besides the defense, the front line also received good news. Khuat Van Khang just scored a beautiful goal against PVF CAND in the 11th round of V-League 2025/26, before the U23 Vietnam team gathering day.
In the context of fierce competition for SEA Games 33, players with high playing tempo and stable performance at their clubs like Dinh Quang Kiet are creating positive pressure on the race for the starting lineup.
