Revealing the reason why the Vietnamese-Belgian prodigy has not yet played for the Vietnam national team

The VFF has extended two invitations to Pham Anh Khoi for U19 Vietnam training camps, yet each time he was unable to attend for various reasons.

Pham Anh Khoi is one of the overseas Vietnamese footballers who have drawn significant attention from Vietnamese football fans. Born in 2007 in Belgium, standing at 1m70, Anh Khoi can play in multiple attacking positions, but his strength is as a right winger. Although he holds Belgian citizenship, his family still retains Vietnamese nationality, which opens up the opportunity for him to represent Vietnam's youth national teams in the future once the necessary procedures are completed.

Joining the youth academy of Royal Antwerp at the age of 11, Anh Khoi has undergone systematic training in one of Belgium's top football development environments. With solid technical skills, modern game intelligence, and a high ability to create breakthroughs, the Vietnamese-origin player has increasingly proven his value in the club's youth teams. Signing a professional contract at 17 was a well-deserved reward for his relentless efforts over the years.

Regarding his student, Mr. Jean Kindermans—Director of Youth Development at Royal Antwerp—had high praise. According to him, Anh Khoi is a creative attacking player capable of handling various roles up front. Speed, skillful ball handling, and impressive dribbling are his standout strengths. The Royal Antwerp coaching staff believes Anh Khoi will make a difference and contribute significantly to the club's U23 team in the upcoming season.

Recently, many fans have wondered why Anh Khoi has not been included in U19 Vietnam's training camps. Addressing these questions, Mr. Pham Huy Hoang—the player's father—shared specific details. He stated that the family greatly appreciates the attention from the VFF, media outlets, and fans toward his son.

According to revelations from the family, the VFF has twice reached out to Anh Khoi and his club to invite him to participate in U19 Vietnam training camps in 2024 and 2026. However, on the first occasion, Anh Khoi could not attend because he was training with Royal Antwerp's U23 team. That period was crucial for his professional development, so the young player had to stay in Belgium to follow the club's plans.

For the most recent call-up, all preparations were nearly complete—Royal Antwerp had given full support, and travel arrangements to Vietnam were ready. Unfortunately, Anh Khoi suffered an injury during a match between Royal Antwerp's youth team and U19 Club Brugge. This injury required more time for treatment and recovery before he could return to the pitch. Despite repeatedly missing opportunities with U19 Vietnam, the door to playing for the national youth teams remains wide open for Pham Anh Khoi in the future.