The strongest lineup of the Vietnam national team in the latest call-up

This call-up for the national team gives Vietnam a completely new appearance, featuring naturalized players and Vietnamese diaspora such as Xuân Son, Hoàng Hên, Khoa Ngô, Tài Lộc, Patrik Lê Giang.

On June 15, Coach Kim Sang Sik announced the list of 28 players for the Vietnam national team during the second training camp of 2026, aiming at a series of international friendlies and the ASEAN Cup 2026. According to the VFF, this squad is a mix of experienced players, young talents, naturalized players, and Vietnamese-origin players who are in good form at their clubs.

From the current list, the strongest theoretical lineup for Vietnam could be built in a 3-4-2-1 formation: Patrik Lê Giang in goal; a back three of Đoàn Văn Hậu, Nguyễn Thành Chung, Đỗ Duy Mạnh; wing-backs Phan Tuấn Tài and Trương Tiến Anh; central midfield pair Nguyễn Hoàng Đức and Nguyễn Quang Hải; with Khoa Ngô and Đỗ Hoàng Hên supporting striker Nguyễn Xuân Son up front.

The most notable aspect of this formula lies in its balance. The three-man defense allows Văn Hậu to take on a left-center-back role, a position where Coach Kim once believed this player 'can perform well'. In the center, Thành Chung provides solidity, while Duy Mạnh is an experienced defensive leader. The flanks with Tuấn Tài and Tiến Anh suit the wing-back system, where Vietnam needs to maintain width and accelerate during transitions.

The midfield duo of Hoàng Đức and Quang Hải is the most powerful choice for ball control. Hoàng Đức keeps the tempo, shields, and carries the ball from deep; Quang Hải can play as a deep-lying playmaker, delivering switches or through balls. This pair allows the team not only to counter-attack but also to impose their game against Southeast Asian opponents.

Up front, Xuân Son is the number one choice for the striker role thanks to his physique, hold-up play, and finishing. Behind him, Hoàng Hên brings flexibility, something Coach Kim emphasized when saying he would use this player 'in many positions'. Khoa Ngô is also a very promising card, as Tuổi Trẻ reported that he has scored 3 goals in the V-League and 1 goal in the National Cup despite only arriving in Vietnamese football midway through the 2025-2026 season.

However, this lineup is not the only option. Naturalized striker Nguyễn Tài Lộc is a strong alternative that puts pressure on Xuân Son or Hoàng Hên, as he has scored 9 goals in 23 V-League matches in 2025-2026 and 2 goals in 4 National Cup matches. If more direct power is needed, Tài Lộc could be fully brought into the starting lineup.

According to the plan, Vietnam will assemble from June 22 in Hanoi, travel to South Korea for a training camp from July 2 to 14, then play a friendly against Myanmar on July 18 in Thai Nguyen. This will be a crucial period for Coach Kim Sang Sik to test whether this 'dream' lineup can become the main framework for the campaign to defend the ASEAN Cup 2026 title.