Vietnam U19 team summons 41 players: Young star from Spain included.
Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi caused a surprise by including midfielder Khoi Truong from Huesca (Spain) in the Vietnam U19 squad preparing for the 2026 Southeast Asian Championship.
On the afternoon of April 28th, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) officially announced the list of 41 players summoned to the national U19 team. This is a crucial preparation step for head coach Yutaka Ikeuchi for the 2026 Southeast Asian U19 Championship campaign and towards the 2027 Asian U20 qualifiers.
The emergence of elements from Spain and Japan.
The highlight of this training camp is the inclusion of two young talents currently training abroad. Most notably, midfielder Khoi Truong (born in 2008), currently a member of the youth team of Huesca – a club competing in the Spanish Second Division. The call-up of Khoi Truong demonstrates the VFF's strategy of maximizing the potential of Vietnamese-born players competing in top-tier European football environments.
In addition, goalkeeper Nguyen Ba Nhat Ka (born in 2007) is also on the list of players returning from Japan. The goalkeeper, who plays for Ryukei University, impressed during the training camp in March and continues to be trusted by coach Ikeuchi in his plans to build a stronger defense.
A combination of experience and youth.
Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi not only prioritizes foreign players but also maintains a stable core with experienced international players such as striker Nguyen Le Phat and defender Dinh Quang Kiet. In addition, the group of players who shone at the 2025 AFC U17 Championship, including Le Huy Viet Anh, Hoang Trong Duy Khang, Nguyen Sy Manh Dung, and Dau Hong Phong, are also given the opportunity to prove themselves at the U19 level.
Despite possessing a large squad, the U19 Vietnam coaching staff anticipates facing a challenging personnel situation. Several players are currently busy with club matches in the professional league and the national second division, preventing a full complement of players from joining the team from the start. In particular, the group of players born in 2008 must balance training with their high school graduation exams, which coincide with the regional championship.
Currently, the entire team has begun their training process at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center. This phase is crucial for Coach Ikeuchi to assess the capabilities of the new players, review tactics, and finalize the best possible squad for the upcoming Southeast Asian tournament.
