Two naturalized players and overseas Vietnamese players unlikely to attend AFF Cup 2024

A provisional list of up to 50 players, including four mandatory goalkeepers, must be submitted to the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) by November 17, 21 days before the first match of the tournament. The list must be accompanied by a colour copy of the passport.

Jason Quang Vinh Pendant is unlikely to complete his naturalization before the deadline to submit his application to the AFF. The defender born in 1997 has a Vietnamese mother but no longer holds citizenship, and has not completed the identification procedure. The application was completed with only one week left, which is almost impossible.

The left-back position in Vietnam is facing difficulties as Doan Van Hau has not returned to play after more than a year of injury. The familiar left-backs have not shown any confidence, such as Nguyen Phong Hong Duy, Vo Minh Trong, Phan Tuan Tai. The substitute players are Vu Van Thanh and Khuat Van Khang. A name that has recently attracted attention is Nguyen Van Vi of Nam Dinh, who may be on the radar of coach Kim Sang-sik.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Xuan Son (Rafaelson) must verify that he has lived in Vietnam for 5 consecutive years, which is reserved for naturalized players without any roots, to be able to play for Vietnam. The Nam Dinh striker can still be included in the preliminary list, but may cause the team to be distracted. Coach Kim Sang-sik will build tactics during the training session in Korea, so it is difficult to exchange a spot for a player whose participation is uncertain.

Currently, Son is injured and missed Nam Dinh's last two matches, respectively winning 3-2 against Tampines Rovers in AFC Champions League Two, and winning 3-0 against Ho Chi Minh City Club in round 7 of V-League 2024-2025.

Without Xuan Son, Vietnam will continue to put their faith in Nguyen Tien Linh - currently leading with 7 goals in V-League 2024-2025. Other strikers include Pham Tuan Hai and Bui Vi Hao, while Nguyen Van Toan has an ankle injury and is expected to return to play at the end of November.

Nguyen Cong Phuong – who has scored three goals in four games for Binh Phuoc since the start of the season – will also be on the preliminary list. Phuong last played for the national team in September 2023, in a 2-0 friendly win over Palestine. He was last called up in March 2024, under coach Philippe Troussier, but suffered an injury and missed two matches against Indonesia in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup – Asia.

Compared to the AFF Cup 2022, four players are definitely absent, including goalkeeper Nguyen Van Toan, midfielder Nguyen Hai Huy (less playing), defender Doan Van Hau (injured) and striker Nguyen Van Quyet (retired from international career). The rest can still continue to participate in the AFF Cup 2024.

Vietnam's preliminary list will include players who are usually called up from October 2023. The two overseas Vietnamese players are goalkeepers Nguyen Filip and Dang Van Lam. The number of U22 players is about 12 people.

Registering a preliminary list of 50 players is a normal procedure before every tournament, including the AFF Cup. This year's regulations stipulate that coach Kim Sang-sik will narrow the list down to 26 players, including three goalkeepers, at a technical meeting a day before the group stage. Before each match, the coach will select 11 starting players and 12 substitutes.

Teams can only replace players if they have serious injuries, with the deadline being six hours before the match. The player must be on the provisional squad list.

Coach Kim Sang-sik can finalize the preliminary list when the eighth round of the 2024-2025 V-League ends on November 16. The training session is scheduled for November 22, with about 30 players. This schedule is 2 days later than the original plan, because Mr. Kim wants the players to have time to visit their families.

Vietnam's training plan in Korea is about 10 days, from November 23 in Gyeongju city. On December 9, the team will visit Laos in the opening match of Group B of the AFF Cup 2024. After that, the team will meet Indonesia (home) on December 15, the Philippines (away) on December 18 and Myanmar (home) on December 21.

The goal for coach Kim Sang-sik is to reach the final.