Vietnam national team defender travels to South Korea for surgery ahead of AFF Cup

Defender Bui Tien Dung is set to undergo knee cartilage surgery in South Korea in late July, causing him to miss the Vietnam team's preparation camp for the 2026 AFF Cup.

Bui Tien Dung will head to South Korea at the end of July to undergo surgery for his knee cartilage injury after a long period of playing in pain. This is considered a necessary decision to help the The Cong Viettel defender and the Vietnam national team finally resolve his physical issues, aiming to return to top form in the near future.

Previously, Bui Tien Dung had just undergone another surgery related to his jaw area. On July 7, the 1995-born defender was hospitalized for surgery to remove two impacted wisdom teeth, which had been causing jaw problems recently. After the operation, Tien Dung's face was severely swollen and he had difficulty eating. By July 11, his health condition had stabilized and he was expected to be discharged to continue recovery.

Having just dealt with his facial injury, Bui Tien Dung now faces an even bigger challenge ahead. According to the plan, around July 27, he will depart for South Korea to undergo knee cartilage surgery. This injury has plagued the The Cong Viettel defender throughout the past season, forcing him to miss matches multiple times and preventing him from maintaining consistent performance as expected.

Sharing about the decision to undergo surgery, Bui Tien Dung said: "Because my knee was hurting, during the 2025/26 season there were many periods when I had to take a break from playing to let the injury recover. So, taking advantage of the end-of-season break, I will go to South Korea for surgery. According to the doctors, my injury only requires about 3 months of rest and rehabilitation before I can return to play."

Choosing South Korea as the treatment destination also stems from the support of The Cong Viettel's medical team. The club's doctor, who is Korean, directly recommended a suitable surgical facility and will accompany Bui Tien Dung throughout the treatment and rehabilitation process. This is expected to help the experienced defender have the best recovery conditions before returning to the pitch.

The prolonged injury has also caused Bui Tien Dung to miss the latest training camp of the Vietnam national team preparing for the 2026 AFF Cup. The absence of the veteran defender is a significant loss for coach Kim Sang Sik, as the team's defense will lack an experienced and composed player. However, Bui Tien Dung's biggest goal right now is to fully treat his injury so he can return soon and continue contributing to his club and the Vietnam national team in upcoming tournaments.