Vietnam faces South Korea at the Asian Cup: Dinh Bac is excited and a turning point from Tien Linh.
Striker Dinh Bac is confident ahead of the challenge of facing Premier League stars at the 2027 Asian Cup, while Nguyen Tien Linh officially ended his goal drought after 225 days.
Vietnamese football on May 12th saw positive developments from the national team level to youth leagues. The focus was on preparations for the 2027 Asian Cup and the return of key players after a difficult period.
Dinh Bac and the tough test against world stars.
The draw for the 2027 Asian Cup placed the Vietnamese national team in a challenging group alongside South Korea, the UAE, and the winner of the match between Yemen and Lebanon. Facing top opponents from across the continent, striker Dinh Bac appeared extremely excited rather than worried.
The striker from CAHN believes this is a rare opportunity for Vietnamese players to compete against stars playing in Europe such as Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, and Kim Min-jae. Dinh Bac emphasized that playing in the biggest tournament in the continent will help the whole team accumulate valuable experience and pledged to do their best for their country.
Coach Kim Sang-sik's tactical calculations
Immediately after returning from Saudi Arabia, coach Kim Sang-sik began reviewing his squad. The South Korean coach expressed confidence in the Vietnamese team's ability to spring a surprise if they prepare thoroughly and build a strong team spirit. He acknowledged the superior strength of South Korea and the UAE but affirmed that football always contains variables.
Notably, the Vietnamese national team is preparing to welcome another quality option in midfield. Midfielder Geovane Magno will complete his naturalization procedures on May 13th in Ninh Binh, under the new name Nguyen Tai Loc. Having another quality "domestic player" like Tai Loc will give coach Kim Sang-sik more options for rotating the squad for important goals at the 2027 Asian Cup and the FIFA ASEAN Cup.
Nguyen Tien Linh's breakthrough and the bright spots from the younger generation.
In the V.League, striker Nguyen Tien Linh ended a streak of 15 consecutive matches without scoring. His goal in the 66th minute against SLNA not only secured a victory for Ho Chi Minh City Police FC but also helped the 1997-born striker relieve the immense psychological pressure he had been under for the past 225 days.
At the youth level, the 2026 Gia Lai U14 International Football Festival kicked off impressively in Pleiku, Gia Lai. Under the watchful eye of coach Kim Sang-sik, U14 HAGL defeated U14 Jubilo Iwata from Japan 1-0. Thanh Nam's only goal at the beginning of the second half showcased impressive technique and dribbling ability, opening up the opportunity for the team from Pleiku to advance to the quarterfinals.
However, women's football received unwelcome news when the Vietnam U17 women's team was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC U17 Women's Championship after a defeat against Australia. Coach Masahiko Okiyama admitted his regret at the unfulfilled World Cup dream, while also pointing out the limitations in speed and intensity of play that the young players need to improve in the future.
