Vietnam team vs Malaysia: Golden opportunity for Vietnamese-American players

The Vietnamese team is expected to gather again on May 26 in Hanoi to prepare for the important match against the Malaysian team, a match that will decide the possibility of winning a ticket to the final round of the 2027 Asian Cup. The away match at the "fire pit" of Bukit Jalil (Kuala Lumpur) with a capacity of more than 80,000 spectators, promises to bring great pressure to coach Kim Sang-sik and his team.

After the first round of matches, the Vietnamese team temporarily leads Group F thanks to a resounding 5-0 victory over Laos. Meanwhile, Malaysia also got 3 points after a 2-0 victory over Nepal, but ranked second due to an inferior goal difference. With such a close gap, the upcoming confrontation between Vietnam and Malaysia is no different from an early "final", directly deciding the top spot in the group, the position that will most likely guarantee a place in the final round of the 2027 Asian Cup.

This is not only an important match in terms of points, but also an opportunity for coach Kim Sang-sik to affirm his tactical mark after more than a year leading the team. Especially, in the context of the team facing many difficulties in terms of force and performance, his consideration of calling up overseas Vietnamese players is considered a reasonable solution to increase the quality of the squad.

It is likely that the expected list of players called up will include four overseas Vietnamese players: Dang Van Lam, Filip Nguyen, Viktor Le and Cao Pendant Quang Vinh. This is a positive signal showing a change in approach in team building strategy, especially during the period when Vietnamese football needs to renew its force.

Among these, two names are all too familiar to fans: goalkeeper Dang Van Lam and Filip Nguyen. Despite being absent from the FIFA Days in March, both are maintaining stable performance at the club level. Their return is expected to create fierce competition for the number one goalkeeper position, which is very necessary in the context of the Vietnamese team's defense not achieving high stability.

On the other hand, Viktor Le and Cao Pendant Quang Vinh are new faces who have just completed the naturalization procedure in 2025. Viktor Le, born in 2003, is playing for Hong Linh Ha Tinh club and left a strong impression in the U22 Vietnam team. Returning to the club, he continued to show stable performance, showing maturity and desire to contribute to the national team.

Meanwhile, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh, a player who played professionally in France, is playing for a club in the V-League and is gradually asserting his ability in the Vietnamese football environment. Although he has never been called up to the national team at any level, Quang Vinh is still considered one of the factors that can create a breakthrough if given the opportunity.

Speaking at a recent international event, coach Kim Sang-sik emphasized: "The Vietnamese team needs to change. We will actively seek naturalized players and overseas Vietnamese to help the team become stronger. This is a common trend in modern football, not only in Asia but also in the world. This will help improve the competitiveness and depth of the team."

The match against Malaysia is not only a measure of expertise, but also an opportunity to test the effectiveness of the policy of expanding the force that coach Kim is pursuing. A victory at the "fire pit" of Bukit Jalil will not only help Vietnam get closer to a ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup, but also affirm the team's potential for rebirth under a more modern and open football philosophy.

The match between Vietnam and Malaysia will take place on June 10 at Bukit Jalil Stadium (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)./.