Vietnam’s 8 naturalized, overseas Vietnamese players: Who will start at FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026?

Vietnam will face the Philippines in their opening Group B match of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 at 7:30 pm on September 26 in Bandung, Indonesia.

This marks the first time Vietnam have had as many naturalized and overseas Vietnamese players in their squad.

In addition to the three naturalized Brazilian forwards Nguyen Xuan Son, Do Hoang Hen and Nguyen Tai Loc, head coach Kim Sang Sik has called up five overseas Vietnamese players: Slovak-born goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang, French-born Nguyen Adou Leygley Minh and Cao Pendant Quang Vinh, Australian-born Ngo Dang Khoa and English-born Williams Minh Hoang.

With his talent quickly recognized, Patrik Le Giang has established himself as Vietnam’s first-choice goalkeeper.

He was named the “Best Goalkeeper of the ASEAN Cup 2026” in his first tournament with Vietnam and has shown that he can continue to provide a solid presence for Vietnam in their bid to win the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 title.

Versatile defender Cao Pendant Quang Vinh is also likely to start. His outstanding performances for Ha Noi Police FC since the beginning of the season suggest that it will be difficult for anyone in the current Vietnam squad to dislodge him from the starting lineup.

Even when Nguyen Van Vi and Doan Van Hau were available, Quang Vinh demonstrated his strengths. Both players, however, are absent from the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 for various reasons.

At the ASEAN Cup 2024, coach Kim Sang Sik did not use all three naturalized forwards together very often, usually fielding two of them at a time. But the South Korean coach may have to field all three in the upcoming matches in Indonesia.

Xuan Son is certain to start, while Hoang Hen and Tai Loc could also play at the same time, in either attack or midfield that is facing a serious shortage of options.

Quang Hai is out injured, while Hoang Duc is not yet fully fit, forcing Kim Sang Sik to consider using Tai Loc or Hoang Hen in midfield alongside central midfielder Le Pham Thanh Long.

3 overseas Vietnamese newcomers await debuts

Nguyen Adou Leygley Minh (Adou Minh), Ngo Dang Khoa (Khoa Ngo) and Williams Minh Hoang are the three newcomers to the Vietnam squad.

Khoa Ngo was previously called up by Kim Sang Sik for preparations for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 but had to leave before taking part in a training session because of an injury.

With center back Nguyen Thanh Chung and Doan Van Hau unavailable, Vietnam’s defense is not necessarily weakened, but Kim Sang Sik faces a difficult decision in selecting his starting trio of center backs for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026.

Pham Xuan Manh, Bui Hoang Viet Anh and Nhat Minh are the three remaining center backs from the squad that won the ASEAN Cup 2026.

Xuan Manh was the only one to start all eight matches. Viet Anh started three, while Nhat Minh was mostly used as a substitute.

As a result, returning center back Le Ngoc Bao and overseas Vietnamese newcomer Adou Minh could have a strong chance of starting.

The other two overseas Vietnamese players, Khoa Ngo and Williams Minh Hoang, are likely to come off the bench. At 19 and 20, respectively, they may find it difficult to compete for places in an attacking unit packed with talented domestic and naturalized players.

But the three overseas Vietnamese newcomers could spring a surprise and shine on their international debuts, just as Patrik Le Giang did at the ASEAN Cup 2026.