Coach Kim Sang-sik announced the list of Vietnam team, without Song Lam Nghe An players

On the afternoon of May 27, coach Kim Sang-sik announced the list of the Vietnam National Team to gather on the occasion of FIFA Days in June 2024, preparing to play two matches against the Philippines and Iraq in the second qualifying round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Asia.

Accordingly, a total of 27 players were selected by coach Kim Sang-sik after he and his colleagues observed the matches in V.League. It can be seen that the key players are still familiar faces to fans such as Nguyen Filip, Dang Van Lam, Bui Tien Dung, Bui Hoang Viet Anh, Do Duy Manh, Ho Tan Tai, Nguyen Hoang Duc, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Do Hung Dung, Nguyen Quang Hai, Pham Tuan Hai, Nguyen Tien Linh, Nguyen Van Toan.

Notably, in this training session of the Vietnamese team, there is no goalkeeper Van Viet from Song Lam Nghe An. Van Viet is currently the number 1 goalkeeper at Song Lam Nghe An. After 21 rounds of V.League 2023/24, Van Viet has appeared in the starting lineup of the Nghe team 19 times. He is considered a reliable stopper of this team.

Currently, goalkeeper Van Viet is achieving impressive form and contributing greatly to helping the Vinh home team win 10 points in the last 4 matches in V.League 2023/24. He is an important link helping coach Pham Anh Tuan's team overcome Hong Linh Ha Tinh and Hoang Anh Gia Lai to rise to 11th place in the V.League 2023/24 rankings. The absence of goalkeeper Van Viet in this training session is a pity for football fans.

Meanwhile, in order to ensure the depth of the team, especially the next generation of players, coach Kim Sang-sik also gave opportunities to many outstanding young players in recent times such as goalkeeper Quan Van Chuan, defender Phan Tuan Tai, midfielder Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Van Truong, Nguyen Thai Son, strikers Tran Ngoc Son, Nguyen Van Tung, Bui Vi Hao.

However, the team also lacks some highly anticipated faces such as central defender Que Ngoc Hai or defender Doan Van Hau, in which Que Ngoc Hai has not been able to return to his best physical condition after a muscle tear injury suffered from the FIFA Days friendly in October 2023, while Doan Van Hau is still trying every day to overcome the most difficult period of his football career, since being injured in October 2023 and having to be absent from the field since then.

Another unfortunate injury case is young striker Nguyen Dinh Bac, who is still recovering under the guidance of doctors at the VFF Sports Medicine Center.

Also during the Vietnam national team's gathering on FIFA Days in June 2024, preparing for the remaining two matches in the second qualifying round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Asia, the Korean coach did not expand his search for talented players from the lower group of the V.League rankings, but mainly called on familiar players who are playing in the groups on the rankings. Thus, the teams without players on the national team include: Song Lam Nghe An, Ho Chi Minh City Club, Hong Linh Ha Tinh, Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Hoang Anh Gia Lai.

According to the plan, the Vietnamese team will begin training on June 1. Coach Kim Sang-sik and his team have 5 days to prepare for the home match against the Philippines, which will take place at 7:00 p.m. on June 6, before moving to Iraq to play the final match in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia.