Do Hoang Hen missed the Vietnam team due to not meeting the requirements.
The naturalized midfielder was absent from the 23-man squad announced on November 6, preparing to face Laos on November 19, due to not completing the 5-year residency milestone (expected in December). Nguyen Xuan Son returned after 10 months of injury.
Do Hoang Hen is not on the list of 23 players for the Vietnam national team for the match against Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers on November 19 due to legal reasons: although he became a Vietnamese citizen on October 17, this midfielder will only be eligible to play internationally after completing the 5-year milestone of residence in Vietnam, expected in December.
Reason for absence: international competition conditions not yet completed
On October 17, Do Hoang Hen officially became a naturalized Vietnamese citizen with the support of the VFF and coach Kim Sang-sik. However, he still needs to reach the 5-year milestone of residing in Vietnam to be able to wear the national team jersey in official matches. According to the roadmap, this milestone is completed in December, so he is not eligible to participate in the November training session and the match against Laos.
Previously, inside information said that coach Kim Sang-sik considered calling Hen to get used to the team environment even though he could not compete yet. However, the final list ended without the Brazilian midfielder's name.
Focus planning and professional focus
The team gathered in Viet Tri (Phu Tho) on November 10 and left for Laos on November 15. This is the 23-player gathering announced on November 6 to prepare for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
The highlight of the personnel is the return of Nguyen Xuan Son after 10 months of absence due to a serious injury. This return is expected to add creativity to the attack, especially in the coordination between the midfield and the strikers.
Tactical perspective: Do Hoang Hen's role gap
In the Hanoi FC shirt, Do Hoang Hen’s form is noted through decisive goals and assists. His playing record shows his ability to play between the lines, link up well and handle the last moment – valuable qualities when the team needs more sudden solutions in the opponent’s half of the field.
The absence of Hen in November posed the problem of replacing him in transition situations and controlling the tempo of the attack. However, the return of Xuan Son partly compensated thanks to his speed and ball sense in a small area. If reunited, this duo – once considered a "twin" in the V-League when playing for Nam Dinh – could unlock deep defenses thanks to the complementarity: one organizer, one finisher.
Rhythm of the match against Laos and short-term expectations
Before Laos on November 19, Coach Kim Sang-sik's priority is likely to be to maintain a stable squad structure, optimizing the connection between the lines instead of taking risks. The list of 23 players therefore reflects caution, as the links returning to playing condition need to be assembled according to the principle of minimum error.
December milestone and return in March
When completing the 5-year residency milestone in December, Do Hoang Hen opens up the possibility of being eligible to compete internationally. With his proven class at the club level, experts say coach Kim Sang-sik will find it difficult to ignore this option when the Vietnam team plays Malaysia again in March next year.
If all goes according to plan, fans can look forward to a Xuan Son – Hoang Hen reunion in attack. An energetic, compact and creative attacking structure is the obvious goal – and a timely return could be the missing piece to improve the final quality of the attack.