U23 Vietnam says goodbye to key player ahead of Asiad 2026: A tough puzzle for coach Dinh Hong Vinh

Just less than a week before departing for the 2026 Asian Games (Asiad) in Japan, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and the coaching staff of the U23 Vietnam national team are facing unprecedented difficulties. News confirmed on September 10: key midfielder Nguyen Cong Phuong – one of the most experienced players of this U23 generation – will not be able to attend the tournament due to a muscle injury and thigh edema, unable to recover in time. The absence of Cong Phuong is a heavy loss, but it is only the tip of the iceberg that the team is enduring. Cong Phuong, 20, is a central midfielder who contributed significantly to the 2026 AFF U23 Championship title, the 33rd SEA Games gold medal, and the bronze medal at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship. He is among the 14 most experienced players in the squad, and losing a player with both technical skill and on-field leadership – though still young – is irreplaceable in a short time. The VFF and coaching staff had to urgently summon midfielder Hoang Quang Dung (born 2026, playing for Hue Club in a lower division) as a replacement. Although Quang Dung was previously called up to the reserve squad at the end of July, the gap in class and experience is clear. Besides Cong Phuong's injury, another crisis is brewing: goalkeeper Pham Dinh Hai of Hanoi Club has not yet been given permission by his club to join the team. The root cause lies in the fact that Asiad is not a mandatory FIFA tournament, so clubs have the right to refuse player release. Without Hai, the team would be left with only two goalkeepers – a huge risk at the most sensitive position. Speaking to the media, VFF Vice President Tran Anh Tu admitted: “Replacing a goalkeeper is not simple because specific confirmation of injury status is needed and must be approved by the organizing committee.” This means that if negotiations with Hanoi Club fail, the VFF will have to go through a complex medical certification process to add a new goalkeeper, and time is running out. The pressure mounts as the team's schedule is extremely tight. According to the plan, the squad will assemble on September 12, depart for Japan on September 13, and play their first match against U23 Kuwait on September 15 – just four days from assembly. In those four days, players from different clubs, with varying fitness and form – some who have not played a competitive match recently due to the V-League schedule – must come together. Defender Dang Tuan Phong will only join the squad on match day in Japan. This makes tactical construction and team cohesion extremely difficult. From a professional analysis perspective, with such limited preparation time, head coach Dinh Hong Vinh can hardly implement any complex tactical system that requires repeated practice. Experts suggest that the most feasible approach is a simple counter-attacking style, relying on set pieces. However, the absence of Cong Phuong in midfield reduces the ability to control the tempo and launch attacks. Meanwhile, the defense, with Tuan Phong arriving late, may lack the necessary coordination. Fitness risks also loom large: many players enter the tournament without a regular match rhythm, prone to injury or fatigue in the closing minutes. Fan expectations for U23 Vietnam are very high, stemming from recent impressive achievements: winning the AFF U23 Championship, SEA Games gold, and finishing third in the AFC U23 Asian Championship. But given the personnel difficulties, preparation time, and administrative issues, the reality is that this is a team racing against time rather than a ready-made squad. Public pressure is therefore increasing: if the team performs poorly, blame will quickly fall on the coaching staff and VFF, despite objective challenges. At a systemic level, this story exposes an inherent problem in Vietnamese football: the conflict between the domestic league schedule and international youth tournaments. Clubs are not obliged to release players for non-FIFA tournaments, leaving the VFF always on the back foot. This is a problem with no short-term solution, but if not improved, it will continue to hamper the development of youth teams when stepping onto the continental stage. Moreover, having to call up a player from a lower division highlights the limited squad depth of U23 Vietnam, raising questions about youth training and selection. In this context, coach Dinh Hong Vinh and his players must work at the highest intensity, using every minute of training as efficiently as possible. Mental strength also plays a crucial role: how to ensure the young players are not overwhelmed by performance pressure and lack of preparation. VFF Vice President Tran Anh Tu's statement shows a psychological preparation for a worst-case scenario, but in the dressing room, a real leader is needed to pull the team through difficulties – and Cong Phuong's absence makes this task even heavier. Overall, U23 Vietnam's journey at Asiad 2026 begins with a series of adverse events. Although sports always hold surprises, given what has happened, a positive result will require extraordinary effort from the entire team, along with a bit of luck. Fans wait and hope, but also need a realistic view of the challenges facing coach Dinh Hong Vinh’s squad. Vietnamese youth football is at a crossroads: success at Asiad will confirm its status as Southeast Asia’s number one, while failure will spark debates about long-term development strategy. The personnel and time puzzle is real, but the answer will only be given on the pitch. The team will enter the opening match against U23 Kuwait with many big question marks. Can they overcome difficulties, write a fairy tale amidst the storm, or will this be a forgettable Asiad? It all depends on how the coaching staff handle the situation, on the fighting spirit of the players, and on the VFF’s crisis management. Vietnamese football history has witnessed dramatic comebacks, but also many disappointments due to overly high expectations. This is the time for everyone to look at things realistically and support the team with all their hearts.