This list records the remarkable return of many experienced players after a period of absence due to injury, thereby helping to strengthen the force depth for the team.
The highlight of the gathering is the reappearance of Tran Thai Huy, Chau Doan Phat and Ngo Ngoc Son. This trio was once unable to participate in SEA Games 33 due to not achieving the best physical condition and form.
Their return is expected to bring more experience, competitive bravery as well as stability to the Vietnamese futsal team in the upcoming important preparation period.
Notably, Chau Doan Phat was just honored with the Golden Ball title of futsal 2025. In addition, the Silver Ball of Tu Minh Quang and the Bronze Ball of Nguyen Da Hai also continued to be on the list of summoned, showing the inheritance and stability in the team's force framework.
According to the plan, the Vietnamese futsal team will start training from January 2, 2026 at the Chanh Hung ward futsal Gymnasium (HCMC). Under the guidance of coach Diego Giustozzi, the whole team will enter the stage of professional training with high intensity, aiming to improve physical strength, tactics and achieve a suitable performance point before the continent's major tournament.
In the process of preparation, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has arranged for the Vietnam futsal team to play two international friendly matches with the Afghanistan futsal team, taking place on January 19th and 21st, 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. This is considered an important opportunity for the coaching staff to review the force, assess the performance of the players as well as experiment with different tactical options.
After a series of friendly matches, the Vietnamese futsal team is expected to depart for Indonesia on January 27, 2026 to participate in the 2026 Asian Futsal Championship Finals. At this tournament, the Vietnamese futsal team is in Group B with highly rated opponents such as defending runner-up Thailand, Kuwait and Lebanon. The group promises to be highly competitive, requiring careful preparation in both professional and competitive psychology.
From the lessons learned at SEA Games 33, along with the methodical and long-term preparation orientation of the VFF, the Vietnamese futsal team entered a new journey with the goal of playing effectively at the 2026 Asian Futsal Championship finals, thereby continuing to affirm the position of Vietnamese futsal in the continental arena.
