The Vietnam Football Federation has just announced the list of 23 players of the Vietnamese national team participating in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. The convened force this time has many changes compared to the squad that just won the ASEAN Cup 2026.
Notably, the absence of defender Doan Van Hau. Previously, he was used throughout the journey of the Vietnamese team at the Southeast Asian tournament.
However, the Hanoi Police player is not named in the list of preparations for the upcoming tournament in Indonesia. This happened after he received a 4-match ban from the VFF Disciplinary Committee for a tackle that injured Doan Ngoc Tan in the 2nd round of V.League 2026-2027.
However, Van Hau's absence actually depends on the form, ability and choice of coach Kim Sang-sik suitable for each tournament, not stemming from domestic penalties.
In the new season, this defender has also not had a stable performance in club colors. In the most recent match, he made a mistake leading to a goal conceded in the 1-4 defeat of Hanoi Police against Gamba Osaka in the AFC Champions League Elite.
When Van Hau is not called up, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh is one of the options that can be considered. The player born in 1997 is specialized in the left-back position and used to play the central defender role in the Hanoi Police shirt. The ability to compete, physically and support the deployment of the ball from behind helps Quang Vinh adapt to this position.
Another option is Nguyen Adou Leygley Minh. The player of Vietnamese - French descent is currently playing for Hanoi Police and this is the first time he has been called up to the Vietnamese national team.
Adou Minh can play as a center-back, has experience playing in France before returning to Vietnam and has participated in the V.League championship journey of Hanoi Police in the 2025-2026 season.
Notably, Adou Minh has played continuously in the early stages of this season. He participated in the AFC Champions League Elite play-off match with Adelaide United, the National Super Cup, the first two rounds of the V.League and the opening match in the continental arena.
In addition to Van Hau, compared to the squad that won the ASEAN Cup in August, the Vietnamese team at the FIFA ASEAN Cup has made adjustments in all three lines.
In the goalkeeper position, Dang Van Lam is not present. The defense no longer has Doan Van Hau, Nguyen Van Vi, Dinh Quang Kiet and Khong Minh Gia Bao. Among them, Van Vi is being treated for injury, and Quang Kiet is playing at ASIAD 20.
In attack, Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong and Nguyen Ngoc My are also not on this list. Ngoc My is currently competing with U23 Vietnam at ASIAD 20.
In the opposite direction, coach Kim Sang-sik added Nguyen Adou Leygley Minh, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh, Le Ngoc Bao, Van Viet and Williams Minh Hoang. Among them, Adou Minh and Williams Minh Hoang are two overseas Vietnamese faces who are called up to the national team for the first time.
