In Group C of the 2026 U23 Asian qualifiers, the U23 Vietnam team will have the participation of midfielder Nguyen Xuan Bac, a player from Phu Tho. This is the first time in history that a player from the land of the Group has competed in an official international tournament at Viet Tri Stadium.
Sharing about his feelings about this special opportunity, Xuan Bac said: "This is the first time I have been able to return to my hometown to compete, I also hope that fans will come to the stadium to cheer not only me but the team to achieve the best results.
I have been away since I was a child, so people in my hometown almost only cheer on me via TV. This time playing in Phu Tho, my family and the people can go directly to the stadium to cheer, that will be a great source of inspiration for me to compete. I am very proud of my hometown of Phu Tho.
In terms of expertise, Xuan Bac is a type of midfielder who is organized and has the ability to press and distribute the ball effectively. Although he does not possess physical advantage, he still plays a good role as a controller in the midfield, bringing softness but solidity to the playing style of U23 Vietnam.
The outstanding performance at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 tournament helped Xuan Bac be voted into the outstanding squad, becoming the only central midfielder of the U23 Vietnam participating.
Previously, in the 2024-2025 National First Division, the young player was also included in the typical squad, alongside Nguyen Hoang Duc - one of the top midfielders in Vietnamese football.
Evaluating his personal development process, Xuan Bac affirmed: The recent journey at U23 Southeast Asia was a fairly new journey for me, and it was also the first time I played a lot in the national team. That is a great source of motivation for me to continue to strive to develop further".
The appearance of Nguyen Xuan Bac at Viet Tri not only has personal meaning but also becomes the pride of Phu Tho fans. With stable performance, open spirit and support from the home crowd, the young midfielder is facing the opportunity to assert himself in the continental arena.
