Vietnam U23 finalizes squad for ASIAD 2026: Key players absent, coach Dinh Hong Vinh hands opportunities to next generation

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has officially announced the list of 23 players of Vietnam U23 for the ASIAD 2026 in Japan. Notably, head coach Dinh Hong Vinh will not have the service of many key players who helped Vietnam U23 win the bronze medal at the 2026 Asian U23 Championship. The squad is distributed by position: 3 goalkeepers, 7 defenders, 9 midfielders and 4 forwards. The players come from various clubs nationwide such as Hanoi FC, SLNA, Cong An TP.HCM, CAND, Hai Phong, Quy Nhon United, Hue, Ninh Binh and The Cong. This diversity shows that Vietnam's youth development system is growing in breadth, no longer relying on any single center. However, the most notable point is the absence of key players. According to the announcement, three players, including Nguyen Dinh Bac, Tran Trung Kien and Nhat Minh, are arranged to join the national team for priority plans. Meanwhile, four others - Nguyen Hieu Minh, Nguyen Thai Son, Bui Vi Hao and Khuan Van Khang - cannot participate due to ligament injuries. These are significant losses because all four contributed actively to the bronze-medal run at the Asian U23 Championship earlier this year. The special context of ASIAD 2026 is that Vietnam U23 is facing great expectations after the national team won the ASEAN Cup and the U23 generation made history with a continental bronze medal. Therefore, keeping some key players for the national team instead of ASIAD shows a strategic direction from the Federation: prioritizing sustained success at the senior national team level in the long term. Looking at the squad structure, choosing 9 midfielders compared with only 4 forwards may indicate an intention to control the midfield or to rotate flexibly in the center. However, this is only a guess from the squad structure, not a confirmation of a specific tactical model. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh still has preparation time to test and shape the playing style suitable for the current force. For the young players given this opportunity, ASIAD 2026 is the stage to prove their worth. Names like Nguyen Quoc Viet or Nguyen Thanh Nhan are likely to be expected to become key factors in the journey to win medals at such a large continental sporting event. The absence of seniors creates a gap, but also opens chances for the next generation to affirm themselves. One notable point is how the media and the Federation handled information. The squad was announced early with clear reasons for absence, helping reduce public pressure and manage expectations realistically. Fans need to understand that the performance at this ASIAD cannot be directly compared to the bronze medal at the Asian U23 Championship because the squad has changed significantly. In terms of management, this decision shows close coordination between the national team and U23. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh not only faces professional challenges but also has to balance maintaining results and developing young players. Public pressure is inevitable, but if the medical staff and coaching team do well in recovery and injury prevention, the team can still create surprises. In the context where big Asian teams like Japan, South Korea or Uzbekistan possess very strong forces, the realistic goal of Vietnam U23 may be to pass the group stage and then go as far as possible. With a young and determined squad, under the guidance of coach Dinh Hong Vinh, fans have the right to hope for a memorable ASIAD despite the absence of some key players. The biggest question now is not how Vietnam U23 will perform, but whether the young players given the chance will have enough courage to seize the moment. History shows that many stars of Vietnam football have grown from tournaments like ASIAD. Perhaps, from the very difficulties in this squad, a new generation will be forged and continue the success of their predecessors.