Coach Kim Sang-sik calls Xuan Son back to the Vietnam team

On the afternoon of November 6, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) homepage posted a list of 23 names called up by coach Kim Sang-sik to join the Vietnam national team for FIFA Days in November 2025.

Notably, the list announced by VFF includes striker Nguyen Xuan Son. This is the first time in 10 months that the Brazilian-born star has returned to the Vietnamese team.

HLV Kim Sang-sik gọi Xuân Son trở lại tuyển Việt Nam- Ảnh 1. — Xuan Son returns to the Vietnam team after 10 months.

At the end of 2024, Xuan Son became a Vietnamese citizen and was then called up by coach Kim Sang-sik to the national team to participate in the AFF Cup 2024. In that tournament, he was on the field from the last match of the group stage.

Despite his limited playing time, his explosive performance afterwards surprised everyone. Xuan Son scored 7 goals on the journey to the championship of the Vietnamese team. The striker born in 1997 won 2 awards: Top scorer and Best player of the AFF Cup 2024.

But in the return final against Thailand, Xuan Son fell and broke both the tibia and fibula of his right leg. After about 10 months of treatment, on October 11, Xuan Son returned to play for the first time in the final minutes of Nam Dinh's practice match with the PVF-CAND Youth First Division team.

Although called up to the Vietnam national team, Xuan Son's ability to play in November is still uncertain.

In addition to Xuan Son, this list also includes two new faces: center back Khong Minh Gia Bao of Ho Chi Minh City Police and striker Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong of Ho Chi Minh City Club.

HLV Kim Sang-sik gọi Xuân Son trở lại tuyển Việt Nam- Ảnh 2. — Xuan Son had an impressive performance at AFF Cup 2024.

Gia Bao is assessed by the coaching staff as having the ability to defend, physical strength and play well with both feet. He grew up at the People's Police Club (now PVF-CAND), then played for Ninh Binh before joining Quang Nam Club. In August 2025, this central defender joined the Ho Chi Minh City Police and is a regular starter. Gia Bao used to play for the U20 Vietnam team and is considered one of the defenders in good form at the moment.

Meanwhile, Viet Cuong is a product of the Binh Duong training center (now Ho Chi Minh City). The national team's coaching staff assessed that this striker has good speed, technique and finishing ability. Viet Cuong is a mainstay of the club this season and has scored two goals in the V-League. Before joining the national team, he played for the U16 and U23 Vietnam teams.

Because this gathering coincides with the time when U22 Vietnam gathers for SEA Games 33, many young players such as goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien, midfielder Khuat Van Khang, and striker Nguyen Dinh Bac cannot attend.

According to the plan, the Vietnamese team will gather on November 10 in Hanoi, then move to Phu Tho to practice from November 11 to 14. One day later, the team will move to Laos to prepare for the match in the fifth round of Group F of the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup on November 18.

After 4 matches, the Vietnamese team has 9 points and is ranked second in Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, 3 points behind the top-ranked Malaysia.

List of Vietnam team members

Goalkeepers (3): Dang Van Lam (Ninh Binh), Nguyen Van Viet (The Cong), Nguyen Dinh Trieu (Hai Phong)

Defenders (8): Do Duy Manh, Nguyen Thanh Chung (Hanoi FC), Nguyen Van Vi (Nam Dinh), Cao Quang Vinh Pendant (CAHN), Phan Tuan Tai, Bui Tien Dung, Truong Tien Anh (The Cong), Khong Minh Gia Bao (Ho Chi Minh City Police)

Midfielders (7): Nguyen Hai Long, Pham Xuan Manh (Hanoi FC), Nguyen Quang Hai, Le Pham Thanh Long, Le Van Do (CAHN), Tran Bao Toan, Nguyen Hoang Duc (Ninh Binh)

Forwards (5): Pham Tuan Hai (Hanoi FC), Nguyen Tien Linh (Ho Chi Minh City Police), Pham Gia Hung (Ninh Binh), Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong (Ho Chi Minh City Club).

Source: https://baoxaydung.vn/hlv-kim-sang-sik-goi-xuan-son-tro-lai-tuyen-viet-nam-192251106182522595.htm