Vietnamese goalkeeper removed from Southeast Asian tournament roster

Coach Diego Giustozzi has finalized the squad for the 2026 Southeast Asian Championship, which includes the removal of goalkeeper Trần Văn Lương.

Coach Diego Giustozzi officially confirmed the list of 14 players for the Vietnam national futsal team participating in the 2026 Southeast Asian Futsal Championship, with a notable change in the goalkeeper position. This decision was made following a thorough review of the squad through training sessions and friendly matches.

The player who had to bid farewell is Trần Văn Lương, despite previously traveling with the team to Thailand to prepare for the tournament. His exclusion just before the competition drew attention, but in reality, this was not an overly surprising choice from the coaching staff.

The main reason stems from the return of Hồ Văn Ý, who is gradually regaining form after an injury. Additionally, Phạm Văn Tú continues to maintain stability and international match experience, creating clear competition for the goalkeeper spot.

Compared to his two teammates, Văn Lương has limited experience in major matches. Although he participated in the 2026 Asian Futsal Championship finals, he mainly served as a backup and had few opportunities to showcase his abilities. This makes it more difficult for this goalkeeper to compete for a starting position.

In the friendly match against Hong Yen Takam on March 31st, Văn Ý was given the opportunity to play the entire second half and demonstrated fairly stable performance. This display somewhat reinforced Coach Giustozzi's confidence in his personnel choices for the upcoming tournament.

Overall, the final roster of the Vietnam national futsal team still prioritizes players with extensive experience, who have competed in international tournaments. A notable highlight is the inclusion of Nguyễn Thạc Hiếu, one of the rare young faces in the squad, reflecting the team's direction of combining experience with potential.