Vietnam national team heads towards the AFF Cup: Xuan Son returns, awaiting naturalization.

At the end of 2025, the Vietnamese national team will celebrate a major milestone: Xuan Son's return after a year of injury treatment. The comeback of the key striker will not only increase firepower for the AFF Cup, but also kickstart a long-term plan where coach Kim Sang-sik prioritizes collective play, reduces reliance on individuals, and integrates naturalized players.

Xuan Son's return and the challenge of rebuilding the attacking line.

Xuan Son's presence was fundamental to the team's transformation under coach Kim Sang-sik. The team not only gained an additional source of goals but also a more effective organizational solution: he was willing to drop deep to create chances, draw away opposing defenders, and establish scoring opportunities for his teammates. Even when not at 100% fitness, the psychological impact of Xuan Son's presence was immediate.

The Xuân Son - Tiến Linh pairing and their versatility in 3-4-3 and 3-5-2 formations.

The reunion of Xuan Son and Tien Linh has helped coach Kim Sang-sik restore the two-striker formation that impressed at the 2024 AFF Cup, with explosive second halves against Singapore and Thailand. This striker pair allows the team to smoothly switch between 3-4-3 and 3-5-2 formations, increasing the versatility in their approach to the goal.

In terms of roles, Xuan Son typically moves back to receive the ball, draw defenders away, and create space, while Tien Linh focuses primarily on the shooting area. Both are strong in off-ball movement and aerial duels, thereby opening up many attacking options in depth.

Reduce dependence, raise coordination standards.

In the past, the Vietnamese national team scored 21 goals in 8 matches at the AFF Cup, largely thanks to the all-around ability and powerful attacking play of Xuan Son. Now that he has just returned, placing the burden on a single individual carries potential risks. Coach Kim Sang-sik is therefore pushing for a more collective playing model, emphasizing quick passing and understanding between the lines to share the goal-scoring responsibility.

In addition, the supporting players have also improved. Tien Linh is increasingly perfecting his ball control and ability to lead the attack, ready to share the workload with his teammates against physically strong opponents.

Long-term vision: domestic players, U23 team, and naturalization.

Coach Kim Sang-sik and the Vietnam Football Federation's plan doesn't stop at the AFF Cup. Their goal is the 2027 Asian Cup and the 2030 World Cup Qualifiers, with a multi-tiered personnel structure.

• Domestic players: Maintain the focus on center forward Tien Linh, while also experimenting with players like Gia Hung and Viet Cuong.
• The U23 generation, including players like Dinh Bac, Thanh Nhan, and Quoc Viet, promises to provide depth and long-term competitiveness.
• Naturalization: Following the success of Xuan Son, this policy is being promoted to provide immediate quality reinforcement for the frontline.

Hoang Hen, Geovane Magno, and a new chapter for the attack.

In terms of naturalization, the next target is Do Hoang Hen, an attacking midfielder born in 1994 who already has Vietnamese citizenship and is awaiting FIFA approval to play. In addition, Geovane Magno is also awaiting approval after receiving support from relevant authorities.

The timely addition of these players will help the team enhance its creativity and sharpness in the penalty area, while also allowing the coaching staff to diversify the attacking structure, from two strikers to a formation with a number 10 operating between the lines.

Short-term and long-term goals

For now, Xuan Son is the cornerstone of a flexible attack at the AFF Cup. In the long term, the Vietnamese national team aims for a sustainable structure based on three key personnel, with healthy internal competition and a clear reserve force. When all the pieces fit together, the team can progress on the continent, not just relying on the inspiration of one star, but on a system that is deep enough and rich in options.