Vietnam National Team and the 'Launchpad' from V-League

26/08/2025 06:55:00 GoalGuru

The opening of the V-League 2025/26 season reveals an interesting mix of spectacular performances, hopeful signs, and anticipation for the Vietnamese diaspora players. Among these vibrant highlights, Coach Kim Sang Sik will surely be one of the most watchful and delighted figures.

V-League 2025/26 started with excitement not only due to the arrival of foreign signings valued at around 1 million euros but also became livelier witnessing the debut of players with Vietnamese roots. Nearly 20 Vietnamese diaspora names are registered across teams, an unprecedented number in V-League history.

It can be said that the new tournament regulations opened the door for these energetic "homecomings." Furthermore, the success of players like Nguyễn Filip, Đặng Văn Lâm, Patrick Lê Giang, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh at club or national team level acts as inspiration for Vietnamese diaspora players. This creates a strong pull attracting foreign-based talent to return and contribute, or at least test themselves in their ancestral land.

Ideal physique, modern and structured tactical thinking are strengths of Vietnamese diaspora players. If they overcome challenges of climate, culture, and communication, they could be the next versions of Nguyễn Filip, Đặng Văn Lâm, Patrick Lê Giang, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh with chances to join or start for the Vietnam national team.

This belief is strengthened by the impressive credentials of new entrants. Brandon Ly comes from Burnley Football Academy (England); Chung Nguyen Do developed at Slavia Sofia (Bulgaria); Vadim Nguyễn was professionally trained at FK Rostov’s football academy (Russia).

Certainly, it is too early to assert that every returning Vietnamese diaspora player will succeed in the tough V-League environment, but opportunities exist and remain wide open. Within this diverse pool of diaspora talent, Coach Kim Sang Sik will likely pay special attention to find quality players for the Vietnam national team.

The strong presence of young Vietnamese diaspora talents like Damian Vũ will benefit both the V-League and the national team. Photo: Hoàng Linh

Heavy investment by clubs is significantly enhancing the V-League’s value, with many foreign players arriving to raise the technical quality of matches. Inspired by this, Vietnamese players, including national team and U23 members, also bring positive energy.

Established players like Quang Hải, Hoàng Đức, Tiến Linh, Thành Chung, Duy Mạnh, Đình Triệu, and Đức Chiến maintain consistent form, while young talents know how to shine when given chances.

Many young players are being boldly integrated into match squads by coaches to test their abilities. Goalkeeper Trần Trung Kiên and center-back Đinh Quang Kiệt performed excellently, helping HAGL secure a draw against Hà Nội FC.

At Vinh stadium, players in their twenties such as Cao Văn Bình, Lê Đình Long Vũ, Phan Văn Thành, Nguyễn Quang Vinh, Trần Nam Hải, and Hồ Văn Cường collectively led SLNA to a win over defending champions Nam Định. Additionally, U23 players like Hiểu Minh, Anh Quân, Xuân Bắc, and Thanh Nhàn also showed great effort for PVF-CAND.

A high-quality national championship is a key prerequisite for elevating the national team, and with the V-League projected to be more competitive, the Vietnam national team will benefit.

Equally important, the start of the V-League also lays the groundwork for all national team levels to gain additional personnel. Players understand that playing time solves many problems—fulfilling passion and ensuring stable income. Above all, at this moment, every player wants to catch Coach Kim Sang Sik’s eye.

This is clear: in a tough league, domestic players who want to keep their starting spots must improve their skills, from technique to fitness and tactical understanding. This is a crucial factor giving Coach Kim Sang Sik more quality options for the Vietnam national team.

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