French-Vietnamese player honored to make history with Vietnam national team

For the first time in Vietnam national team history, a Vietnamese overseas player is part of the team leadership.

Vietnam is preparing to face Nepal in the third match of Group F, 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, on the evening of October 9. According to the latest information, the leadership group of the "Golden Dragon" during the October FIFA Days includes captain Duy Manh and two vice-captains, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh and Hoang Duc.

The selection of Cao Pendant Quang Vinh as vice-captain is quite surprising. He is the first Vietnamese overseas player ever honored to be part of the Vietnam national team leadership. Another interesting fact is that Pendant Quang Vinh only started playing for Vietnam in June this year after completing nationality procedures and becoming eligible to play.

Choosing Pendant Quang Vinh also shows that coach Kim Sang Sik aims to further diversify the Vietnam national team’s composition in the future. The defender with dual Vietnamese-French heritage could serve as a bridge between overseas Vietnamese players and naturalized players in the national squad.

Cao Pendant Quang Vinh’s father is French and his mother is Vietnamese. He officially joined Hanoi Police Club in August 2024 and obtained Vietnamese citizenship in March 2025. Before returning to Vietnam, Quang Vinh played for clubs Sochaux, Quevilly-Rouen (France), and New York Red Bulls (USA), and also represented France at U16 and U18 levels.

Pendant Quang Vinh expressed on the day he officially became a Vietnamese citizen: “Today is a special day in my life – the day I officially become a Vietnamese citizen. My heart is filled with happiness and pride. I was born in France, but the Vietnamese blood in me always drives me to dedicate myself to my homeland’s football.

This is not just an honor but also a promise and responsibility. I will use all my talent and passion to contribute to the national colors, so that every goal and every pass reflects the pride of our nation.”