U23 Vietnam: Big challenges at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 tournament

At the national team level, both Indonesia and Malaysia have become very strong thanks to the naturalization policy. Indonesia has just entered the fourth qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, while Malaysia recently had a resounding 4-0 victory over Vietnam in the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup on the day of "introducing" a squad of quality naturalized players.

In the match at Bukit Jalil Stadium on June 10, Malaysia used up to 9 naturalized players. Coach Peter Cklamovski affirmed that his team is even stronger because there are many other players who have not been used.

According to research, not only the national team, Malaysia also plans to "recruit" naturalized players for the U23 team, in order to compete for the championship at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 tournament taking place next July.

u22 vietnam 1.JPG — U23 Vietnam is ready for the U23 Southeast Asian tournament with the goal of defending the championship. Photo: SN

According to Malaysian press, the information about the naturalized players will be kept secret until the last minute to surprise the opponent. Previously, in the match against Vietnam, the "Tigers" also followed this method, making coach Kim Sang Sik 's team passive in coming up with a countermeasure.

In addition to Malaysia, Indonesia also showed great determination to compete for the championship at the U23 Southeast Asian tournament when playing at home. The team from the archipelago country recently announced the list of the U23 team, with the participation of many national players.

Notably, Indonesia called up Jens Raven, a 19-year-old naturalized striker who plays for Dordrecht in the Dutch Second Division. This young player is considered very promising, a spearhead who can cause many difficulties for opposing defenses, including U23 Vietnam.

kim sang sik 2.JPG — Coach Kim Sang Sik has a headache because of the problem of naturalized players in the region. Photo: SN

Faced with the fluctuations in regional football related to the wave of naturalized players, VFF affirmed that Vietnamese teams remain steadfast in the direction they have chosen: using mainly domestic players, and only naturalized players at an appropriate level, in order to maintain identity and develop the domestic football movement.

For coach Kim Sang Sik, after the defeat against Malaysia, the Korean strategist must now prepare plans to deal with naturalized players. Compared to naturalized players in the national team, the quality of the U23 team may not be as good, but it is still an existential threat.

According to the plan, U23 Vietnam will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria Vung Tau, train there until July 14, and then go to Indonesia to participate in the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, taking place from July 15 to 29. In the group stage, coach Kim Sang Sik's team will meet Laos (July 19) and Cambodia (July 22).