Football Hot News Lunchtime 23/6: Vietnam National Team Quietly Undergoes Transformation

Southeast Asian and global football are buzzing with Vietnam's team evolution, Indonesia's bid to host, plus fresh updates from the 2026 World Cup and European transfers.

Vietnam National Team Quietly Overhauls

Under head coach Kim Sang-sik, the Vietnam national team is displaying notable changes both in operational tactics and squad depth. Recently, the VFF decided to let the South Korean strategist focus solely on the senior team rather than leading the U23s at the 2026 Asian Games, aiming for major targets like the 2026 ASEAN Championship and the 2027 Asian Cup.

Additionally, Vietnam has drawn attention with a significant improvement in physique, as 15 out of 28 players now stand at 1.80m or taller. The arrival of overseas Vietnamese goalkeeper Patrik Lê Giang further strengthens the squad depth. While Indonesia continues its naturalization policy, Vietnam is pursuing internal development, setting up an intriguing rivalry between Southeast Asia's two football powers in the coming period.

Indonesia Emerges as Top Contender to Host the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup

Indonesia is becoming the strongest candidate for the right to host the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup, marking a major milestone for Southeast Asian football. The tournament is scheduled for September-October 2026 and is part of FIFA's official match calendar, allowing teams to field their strongest lineups without club restrictions on call-ups.

Indonesia benefits greatly from its pool of naturalized and European-based players such as Jay Idzes, Calvin Verdonk, and Emil Audero, significantly boosting squad strength. The Indonesian government, involving President Prabowo Subianto, PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir, and coach John Herdman, is actively pushing the hosting plan. The chances of success are assessed as very high, up to 90%.

Storm Turns France-Iraq Match into a 4-Hour Record at the 2026 World Cup

The match between France and Iraq at the 2026 World Cup faced severe disruption due to thunderstorms in Philadelphia (USA), lasting a total of 131 minutes and turning the clash into the longest game in World Cup history.

After France led 1-0 at halftime, bad weather forced a suspension under strict US safety regulations, leading to an unusually long break. Heavy rain and constant lightning delayed the restart until after 8:00 PM.

Despite nearly 4 hours of waiting, France still won 3-0 thanks to a brace from Kylian Mbappe and a goal by Ousmane Dembele, concluding an extraordinary match not only for its football but also for the "historic storm" off the pitch.

"Contraband" in Michael Olise's Locker Draws Attention

The incident started when images circulated on social media showing a small jar suspected to be snus—a smokeless nicotine product from Sweden—in the locker area of Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Olise.

Snus is banned for sale in many European countries such as France and Germany, quickly sparking controversy, especially as Olise is a key player for France at the 2026 World Cup. Previously, snus made headlines when Jamie Vardy admitted using it during his time at Leicester City.

Neither Olise nor the French team has responded yet, but the case is adding pressure ahead of important matches.

Transfers European Market Heats Up: Ugarte, Maresca, and Alvarez Make Headlines

Manchester United is reportedly ready to sell midfielder Manuel Ugarte at a loss this summer transfer window, after he failed to meet expectations since joining from PSG for £42 million. The player made only 8 Premier League starts last season.

In another development, Manchester City is nearing the appointment of Enzo Maresca, with a compensation fee to Chelsea reportedly exceeding £17 million.

Meanwhile, Julian Alvarez has publicly expressed his desire to leave Atletico to pursue his dream of playing for Real Madrid. In England, Liverpool rejected a €25 million offer from Inter Milan for Curtis Jones, insisting a fair price must be significantly higher.