The Vietnam U22 team departs to participate in CFA Team China.
The CFA Team China friendly tournament is an opportunity for coach Dinh Hong Vinh to build a team and evaluate the performance of overseas Vietnamese players in the Vietnam U22 team.
Today (March 17th), the Vietnam U22 team will depart for China to participate in the CFA Team China friendly tournament. This tournament aims to evaluate and build a strong team in preparation for the 2026 U23 Asian Championship qualifiers and the 33rd SEA Games at the end of the year. Playing against high-quality opponents is an important opportunity for head coach Dinh Hong Vinh to test personnel and refine the team's playing style.
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According to the schedule, the Vietnam U22 team will face very strong opponents, including South Korea U22 (March 21), Uzbekistan U22 (March 23), and China U22 (March 25). These are high-level teams with diverse playing styles and extensive experience in continental competitions.
In the squad list, the Vietnam U22 team faced considerable difficulties due to the absence of two key players: Goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien was called up to the national team, and striker Nguyen Dinh Bac was unable to participate due to a broken toe injury.
However, the squad still includes prominent names such as Ho Van Cuong, Dinh Xuan Tien, Nguyen Van Truong, and Nguyen Quoc Viet - who contributed to the 2023 Southeast Asian U23 Championship victory.
Among the 25-player squad, the inclusion of two Vietnamese-born midfielders, Viktor Lê (Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh, V-League) and Andrej Nguyễn An Khánh (SK Polanka, Czech Republic Fourth Division), has attracted particular attention. These players of Vietnamese origin bring different football styles from abroad, promising to add unpredictability to the team's lineup.
Acting head coach Dinh Hong Vinh said: "Under the tactical guidance of coach Kim Sang-sik, we hope these new players will bring a fresh perspective to the Vietnam U22 team, especially in situations requiring creativity and quick transitions on the field."
In particular, with the trend of searching for and training Vietnamese players living abroad to improve the quality of the national team, giving opportunities to Viktor Lê and Andrej Nguyễn An Khánh will be an important step.
The CFA Team China friendly tournament is not only an important test of professional skills but also an opportunity for the Vietnam U22 team to prove themselves against strong opponents. Integrating overseas Vietnamese players into the squad promises to make the youth team more diverse and innovative in the future.
