What does Vietnamese football expect in 2025?

Bui Vi Hao in the Vietnamese national team jersey at the ASEAN Cup 2024 – Photo: HOANG TUNG

Vietnamese football will have a busy year in 2025. In addition to the Vietnamese national team having to perform well in the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup, the national U22 team must also achieve good results in the qualifying round of the 2026 Asian U23 Championship and the 33rd SEA Games.

Give young players a chance

The championship of the Vietnam team at the ASEAN Cup 2024 not only brings excitement to Vietnamese football in the first days of the new year but also makes Vietnamese fans more hopeful. In particular, continuing to bring U22 Vietnam to the championship in Thailand is what everyone is waiting for coach Kim Sang Sik and his team to bring in 2025.

Of course, winning the gold medal in men’s football at the 33rd SEA Games is not easy for Thailand – which has home field advantage and a quality young squad. Not to mention Indonesia with the U21 team played quite well at the 2024 ASEAN Cup, although they do not have their full strength, which is also a big challenge.

But both coach Kim Sang Sik and the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) are still confident in their preparations for the gold-hunting campaign. Because the list of young talents in the age group of the 33rd SEA Games to monitor in the V-League or the 2024-2025 First Division, preparation for the training plan and participation in friendly tournaments has been prepared by the Korean coach and the VFF since the end of last year.

It is worth mentioning that many clubs in the V-League or the First Division also create many conditions for young players to compete on the field to help coach Kim Sang Sik find and select the best players for the Vietnam U22 team. 

Among them, Hoang Anh Gia Lai is the club that shows the most clearly by trusting many young players such as goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien, center back Pham Ly Duc and Nguyen Van Trieu in phase 1. Recently, the mountain town team has just added 4 more faces who won the 2024 National U21 Championship for phase 2.

Talking about Vietnamese football in the new year, commentator Vu Quang Huy hopes: “The 2024 ASEAN Cup championship will make the V-League more exciting. Young players also promise to be given more opportunities to continue to conquer the 33rd SEA Games gold medal.”

“Since the time of coach Philippe Troussier, he has brought many young players to the national team to gain experience. Currently, in the V-League, there are about 50 players who can play in the 33rd SEA Games, they seize the opportunity quickly. In the year of the SEA Games, young players will often make an effort, considering this an opportunity to show themselves and reach new heights. 

We have often witnessed cases of young players progressing very quickly in just one year, so from now until the 33rd SEA Games, U22 Vietnam will probably have many impressive new faces,” Mr. Vu Quang Huy added.

Vikto Le celebrates his goal in the National Cup – Photo: VPF

Resilience for young players

At the age of 18, Nguyen Manh Hung has worn the U23 Vietnam shirt to win the 2023 Southeast Asian U23 Championship. But to be able to attend the 33rd SEA Games at the end of this year, this 1m77 tall central defender will have to make more efforts to play for The Cong – Viettel Club in the 2024-2025 V-League, thereby catching the eye of coach Kim Sang Sik. Because up to now, Manh Hung has only been on the field as a substitute twice since the beginning of the tournament. However, the effort to practice and the desire to play are always ready in this young player.

Manh Hung shared: “Going to the SEA Games and the U23 Asian qualifiers is the desire of many people. So anyone, including me, will try their best to have the opportunity to contribute to the country’s football.” 

Among the young players planned early for the 33rd SEA Games, striker Bui Vi Hao emerged as a pillar of the U22 Vietnam team. He was given the opportunity to play many times for the Vietnam national team in the 2024 ASEAN Cup, playing quite well with 1 goal and 1 assist. The fact that he has never attended a SEA Games makes Bui Vi Hao even more eager and determined to contribute to Vietnamese football.

The player currently playing for B.Binh Duong Club expressed: “After winning the ASEAN Cup 2024, my goal this year is the 33rd SEA Games. Every player wearing the national team jersey has a great responsibility, so I will have to try my best. Missing the previous two SEA Games will be a great motivation for me to compete for a place in the upcoming 33rd SEA Games. I will try to compete and fight to win, bringing joy to the country”.

Source: tuoitre.