After the mark of the Vietnam U23 team with a bronze medal at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship in early January, V.League 2025-2026 enters the second leg in a much more exciting atmosphere. Not only is it a point race between clubs, the tournament also recorded great interest from the audience thanks to the appearance and brilliance of many young players, including Vietnamese overseas faces who are gradually asserting their abilities.
Reality shows that young players not only bring a breath of fresh air in terms of expertise but also contribute to bringing spectators back to the stadium, something that V.League has always struggled to find a solution for many recent seasons.
Dinh Bac and the spillover effect from the pitch to the stands
Among the young players who are receiving a lot of attention, the name Dinh Bac has emerged as a special phenomenon. The striker born in 2004 not only left a professional mark after the AFC U23 Championship but also became the focus of attention on social media platforms.
Dinh Bac's appeal is partly reflected in the match between Hanoi Police Club and Ninh Binh at Hang Day Stadium, when nearly 13,000 spectators were present in the stands. Before the match started, the area outside the stadium was often crowded with fans waiting, taking photos and cheering for the young players.
Not only Dinh Bac, this match also gathered many faces who had just played prominently in the U23 Vietnam jersey such as Minh Phuc (Hanoi Police), Le Phat or Thai Son (Ninh Binh). Although only brought on in the 2nd half, the young players still showed a fierce fighting spirit, contributing to creating an exciting match with 5 goals. The 3-2 victory leaned towards Hanoi Police, but what was mentioned more was professional quality and high pace of play throughout 90 minutes.
From this reality, many opinions believe that if the matches in the V.League maintain such fierceness, openness and rich competitiveness, the league will gradually regain the trust of the audience, and at the same time increase the attractiveness to sponsors.
Young overseas Vietnamese player affirms value
Besides players who grew up from the domestic training system, round 12 of V.League also marked the strong imprint of young overseas Vietnamese players. In the match between Hanoi Police and Ninh Binh, midfielder Tran Thanh Trung (born in 2005) entered the field from the 2nd half but quickly made an impact with a beautiful goal. His appearance helped Ninh Binh maintain a good game despite having to play with one less player from the first half.
In another development, Ho Chi Minh City Police Club witnessed the impressive debut of Lee Williams and Ngo Dang Khoa in the match against PVF-CAND. Lee Williams, born in 2007, 1m90 tall, trained in England and grew up from the young system of Stockport County. Despite possessing superior physique, this player still showed agility and good ball handling in a narrow range.
In just 3 recent matches in domestic competitions, Lee Williams has scored 3 goals, becoming one of the bright spots in the team's attack. Meanwhile, Ngo Dang Khoa (born in 2006), who grew up in the Australian football environment, although not having a physical advantage, is compensated by speed, technique and flexible mobility. The goal in his debut match helped this player quickly make an impression on the coaching staff and fans.
The appearance of young overseas Vietnamese players contributes to making the playing style of Ho Chi Minh City Police more diverse and lively. This is expected to help the upcoming matches of the team, especially the reception of Thanh Hoa in round 13 at Thong Nhat Stadium, attract a large number of spectators.
From a long-term perspective, the fact that coaches such as Polking, Gerard Albadajejo or Huynh Duc boldly give opportunities to young players is considered a positive sign.
