U23 Vietnam: Viktor Le is the only overseas Vietnamese guaranteed a spot
U23 Vietnam is aiming for Panda Cup 2025 with about 26 players; Viktor Le is a Vietnamese-American with a guaranteed spot, Vadim Nguyen was not called, Tran Thanh Trung is not guaranteed.
In the group of 3 overseas Vietnamese players who have Vietnamese nationality, only one name is almost certain to be in the U23 Vietnam team: Viktor Le. Coach Kim Sang Sik did not call up Vadim Nguyen, and the case of Tran Thanh Trung still needs to be further evaluated for his ability to integrate and his physical condition before finalizing the list for the Panda Cup 2025.
Panda Cup 2025 and U23 Vietnam's personnel plan
Vietnam U23 will train and compete continuously in November-December 2025. In the 4th training session in 2025, from November 10 to 19, 2025, the team will participate in the Panda Cup 2025 International Friendly Tournament in China, facing opponents China U23, Uzbekistan U23 and Korea U23. The expected list of players is about 26.
Decision with group of Vietnamese-American players
According to the information given, Coach Kim Sang Sik did not call up Vadim Nguyen even though this player had a positive performance period in SHB Da Nang's shirt. The two overseas Vietnamese players expected to be present are Viktor Le and Tran Thanh Trung.
However, Tran Thanh Trung's situation is not guaranteed. His recent injury is not too serious and this player has returned to the starting lineup in the last 2 rounds, but the criteria for integrating with the U23 Vietnam style of play and his physical condition still need to be verified in the upcoming training sessions and matches.
Competition in midfield
Tran Thanh Trung’s position will face great competition. Names like Xuan Bac and Khuat Van Khang are likely to return to U23 Vietnam as they are not training with the national team this time. In addition, the midfield also has Van Truong and Cong Phuong, highly rated players, making the midfield area even more crowded.
Viktor Le: sure position, but starting position not yet guaranteed
In the group of overseas Vietnamese, Viktor Le is the only name that can be considered a sure bet for this training session. The Russian-Vietnamese player is a mainstay of Hong Linh Ha Tinh, has extensive experience playing in the V-League and is a regular in the U23 Vietnam team.
However, even if he is selected for the national team, Viktor Le's starting position is not guaranteed. The squad will depend on the coaching staff's professional assessment in the context that U23 Vietnam has many personnel options for the tournament in China.
Training roadmap towards SEA Games 33
Right after the Panda Cup 2025, U23 Vietnam will enter the 5th training session of 2025 from November 23 to December 19, 2025. This is considered the rehearsal period before the 33rd SEA Games.
The team will train in Vung Tau from November 23 to 29, then travel to Ho Chi Minh City and leave for Thailand on December 2 to attend the Congress. The continuous schedule places high demands on personnel, from screening the force for the Panda Cup to maintaining the competitive state to prepare for the regional arena.
The picture of personnel selection
From the current decisions, the overseas Vietnamese group of U23 Vietnam is clearly taking shape: Viktor Le is almost certain to be in the squad, Vadim Nguyen will not be present, and Tran Thanh Trung needs more time to confirm. In the context of the midfield converging many notable faces, the coaching staff will continue to monitor the integration efficiency and physical strength of each player before finalizing the roster for the next stage.
