On November 21, coach Kim Sang-sik announced the list of 28 players for the final training session towards the 33rd SEA Games. This is considered an important completion stage to compete in the 2025 SEA Games and go far in the 2026 U23 Asian Cup finals.
This list of players is mainly familiar faces who have accompanied the team since the end of 2024, have experienced many official international tournaments and quality training trips, especially 3 times participating in the CFA Team China tournament.
However, U22 Vietnam suffered a big loss when midfielder Nguyen Van Truong suffered a ligament injury in the match against U22 Korea at the Panda Cup 2025. The surgery prevented him from participating in the 33rd SEA Games, which was a significant loss for the team.
To maintain the stability of the force, Mr. Kim Sang-sik continues to trust the old framework and adds a number of players who have participated in recent training sessions such as Nguyen Le Phat, Tran Thanh Trung and Nguyen Duc Viet. These are all familiar faces with the team's tactical philosophy and competition environment.
According to the plan, U22 Vietnam will gather in Ho Chi Minh City on November 23 before leaving for Thailand on December 1.
The team will meet U22 Laos in the opening match on December 4 and face U22 Malaysia a week later. Players Nguyen Dinh Bac and Pham Minh Phuc could only participate on the right day of competition due to being busy with tasks at the club, forcing the coaching staff to calculate personnel carefully.
Despite facing some difficulties, U22 Vietnam still maintains the initiative thanks to long-term preparation, creating a foundation for the whole team to aim for the 33rd SEA Games with the goal of competing for medals and affirming the strength of Vietnamese youth football.
