Indonesian media are alarmed by Vietnam's naturalized duo scoring 131 goals

Indonesian media are openly worried about the prospect of their team meeting Vietnam in the 2026 AFF Cup group round.

The Superball recently published an article with a striking headline: "Vietnam's naturalized duo emerges as a threat to Indonesia in the 2026 AFF Cup group stage."

According to the draw results, Indonesia and Vietnam are placed together in Group A along with Singapore, Cambodia, and either Timor Leste or Brunei. Indonesia will kick off their campaign hosting Cambodia on July 31, then travel to face either Timor Leste or Brunei. Notably, the most anticipated match in the group will take place on August 3, when Indonesia visits Vietnam, before concluding the group stage with an away game against Singapore.

Superball considers Vietnam, as the defending champions, the toughest rival for Indonesia in Group A. Besides having a seasoned squad, coach Kim Sang-sik’s team has also added quality naturalized players, significantly boosting the team's depth.

In the article, Indonesian media particularly highlight the presence of Đỗ Hoàng Hên (Hendrio Araujo). The article quotes: "One notable name is Đỗ Hoàng Hên, also known as Hendrio Araujo. Do Hoang Hen gained Vietnamese citizenship last October after living here for five years."

Even more notably, Superball focuses on the connection between Hoàng Hên and Nguyễn Xuân Son, Vietnam's key naturalized striker. The article states: "Additionally, he has developed good chemistry with the main naturalized forward Nguyễn Xuân Son. Hoàng Hên affirms he knows Xuân Son’s playing style well after four seasons playing together at Nam Định."

Superball also notes that Hoàng Hên currently has several teammates at Hà Nội FC who are national team members such as Duy Mạnh, Hai Long, and Tuấn Hải, which could help him adapt quickly if called up. Furthermore, Xuân Son has established himself as an important offensive player, becoming one of Vietnam’s most notable attacking threats recently.

Concluding the article, Indonesian media emphasize: "With the strong understanding between these two players, Hoàng Hên and Xuân Son could pose a major threat to Indonesia in the 2026 AFF Cup."

According to Transfermarkt, during his time playing in Vietnam, Hoàng Hên scored 33 goals. Meanwhile, Xuân Son has netted 90 goals at club level and 8 goals for the Vietnamese national team.

Clearly, ahead of the 2026 AFF Cup, the rivalry between Indonesia and Vietnam in Group A is heating up daily. The presence of the naturalized duo Hoàng Hên and Xuân Son not only strengthens Vietnam but also demands caution from their rivals, especially as both teams aim to qualify for the semifinals.