Vietnam U19 team has called up Trần Gia Bảo and Vietnamese-born goalkeeper Aaron Tú Vinh as additional players.
Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi conducted a large-scale personnel selection process, naming young talent Tran Gia Bao along with a goalkeeper of Vietnamese-Canadian descent for the 2026 campaign.
The Vietnam U19 team has officially made its first personnel changes under coach Yutaka Ikeuchi after a week of intense training. In an effort to refresh the squad and optimize strength for key objectives, the coaching staff decided to part ways with 12 players and immediately add 10 promising new faces.
The emergence of a promising group of young talents.
The highlight of this training camp is the participation ofTran Gia BaoGia Bảo, a talented young player from HAGL, is considered one of the brightest "prodigies" in Vietnamese football today. His presence is expected to significantly increase the attacking potential of the national youth team.
Besides Gia Bao, the supplementary list also includes experienced players who have competed in the 2025 U17 Asian Championship finals such as Nguyen Bao Ngoc (SLNA), Dau Hong Phong (Hanoi), and Nguyen Van Khanh (Ha Tinh). Other players like Dao Quang Anh, Nguyen Quoc Khanh, Le Huy Viet Anh, Nguyen Van Bach, and Hoang Trong Duy Khang are also given the opportunity to showcase their abilities in a highly competitive environment.
The boost from overseas Vietnamese
The most notable addition to the list of new recruits is the goalkeeper.Aaron Tu Vinh Napierala(Born in 2007). Possessing an impressive height of 1.83m and a solid training background in North America and Spain, Tu Vinh is considered a quality addition to the U19 Vietnam goal. Previously, this goalkeeper of Vietnamese and Canadian descent made a strong impression during his trial at Ho Chi Minh City FC in 2024.
In addition, the Vietnamese-born midfielderAntonio MoricMoric has also officially rejoined the U19 squad after a week of training with his senior teammates in the Vietnam U23 team. Moric's return brings more flexible tactical options to coach Yutaka Ikeuchi's midfield.
The roadmap towards major tournaments
This phased personnel selection and recruitment strategy demonstrates Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi's meticulous approach to comprehensively assessing player capabilities. This is a crucial preparation step for the Vietnam U19 team to build a stable core towards two important goals: the 2026 Southeast Asian U19 Championship and the 2027 Asian U20 Qualifiers.
Despite 12 players having to temporarily leave the national team, the coaching staff affirmed that the door to the national team remains wide open based on the players' actual performance at their clubs in the coming period.
