AStar 2026: Vietnam's Bold Move to Win the Next Decade

As soon as the Vietnam Football Federation announced the 23-player squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, a wave of protest erupted on social media. There was no Nguyen Dinh Bac, no Tran Trung Kien, no Nguyen Nhat Minh – three players who had just helped the national team win the ASEAN Cup. Four other names were also absent due to ligament injuries: Nguyen Hieu Minh, Nguyen Thai Son, Bui Vi Hao, Khuat Van Khang. Fans asked: Is VFF deliberately throwing away the chance to win a medal at a historic Asian Games? The pub taught me to read matches; the lineup only distracts me. And if you look closely, this is not a weak squad, but the most intelligent strategy Vietnamese football has ever had. The context of this decision cannot be separated from the recent successes. Vietnam U23 won a bronze medal at the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Championship – the best result in history. Three months earlier, the national team also won the AFF Cup, opening a golden period for Vietnamese football. So when coach Dinh Hong Vinh finalized a squad with only 3 goalkeepers, 7 defenders, 9 midfielders and 4 strikers, many saw it as a severe downgrade. But if you read the names carefully, you will see a philosophy forming: VFF is betting on midfield depth, rather than chasing reputations. Look at the list: players come from many different clubs – Hanoi, SLNA, CAHN, CAND, Hai Phong, Quy Nhon United, Hue, Ninh Binh and The Cong. No single club dominates, showing that Vietnamese football academies are operating broadly. Nine midfielders, compared to four strikers, may seem defensive, but it is actually a sign of a modern possession-based style – proven during the historic run at the U-23 Asian Championship. Players like Nguyen Quoc Viet and Nguyen Thanh Nhan – once backups – now have a chance to shine. They, not the resting stars, are the potential heroes of a new generation. The absence of Nguyen Dinh Bac, Tran Trung Kien and Nguyen Nhat Minh is clearly explained: they are part of the national team plan. For a country that just won the region, protecting and developing the core is the top priority. The Asian Games is outside the FIFA window, so calling up players during the season always carries risks of injury and exhaustion. Instead of burning out, VFF chooses to let these key players focus on the 2027 World Cup qualifiers – where a World Cup spot can change an entire football nation. If anyone calls this 'parking the bus,' I will remind them of Morocco at the 2026 World Cup: they did not park the bus; they taught the modern game the fear of a team with nothing to lose. The blind spot that fans overlook is the opportunity cost. If Vietnam U23 puts all its strength into the Asian Games – a competition not officially under FIFA/AFC – and wins a medal, does that help Vietnam break into Asia's top 20? No. Meanwhile, if the national team advances from the third round of World Cup qualifying, the brand value of the whole football nation will soar. Morocco in 2026 went to the World Cup after winning gold at the 2026 Asian Games? No, they built their squad from youth tournaments without over-prioritizing results. The price of a failed Asian Games is tiny compared to the benefits of a World Cup cycle. That said, I do not dismiss the emotions of the fans. In 2026, I sat in a bar while friends laughed at me for predicting South Korea would beat Germany. I pointed to the numbers – Germany's 0.8 expected goals after two matches – and made a small bet. When South Korea won 2-1, I learned that the crowd is often led by emotion, while numbers never lie. Today, the number 9 midfielders tells me coach Dinh Hong Vinh is not trying to defend, but to control the midfield completely against Southeast Asian rivals like Thailand or Indonesia. That is a clear tactical signal. The lesson from Euro 2026 makes me even more confident. When I criticized Lamine Yamal as a 'media product,' he scored a goal that forced me to write an apology immediately. But more importantly, Spain dared to give a 16-year-old a chance at the biggest continental tournament, and they won. Vietnam needs its own 'Lamine Yamal.' Who knows if among these 23 players, there is one who will become a pillar of the national team at the 2030 World Cup? We will only find out if we let them play at the 2026 Asian Games. The road ahead for U23 Vietnam will surely be rocky. The ligament injuries to the four players – who contributed greatly to the U-23 Asian bronze – make the ambition of reaching Asia's top eight more difficult. But from a squad management perspective, this is a perfect challenge for doctors and fitness coaches. If they help young players cope with the dense competition schedule, the physical foundation of an entire generation will improve. Conversely, if injured stars are forced to grind through the Asian Games, they risk breaking down and derailing their careers. VFF has calculated carefully. On policy, the decision is perfectly legitimate. The Asian Games is not in the FIFA system, so clubs are not obligated to release players. VFF had to negotiate with each club, and leaving three key players with the national team is a way to harmonize interests between the federation and clubs. Hanoi FC, SLNA, CAHN do not want to lose players for a tournament with no direct financial benefit. As for the injured players, they need time to heal, which means U23 Vietnam must undergo a complete overhaul. This is a silent revolution that few recognize. Let me be direct: if U23 Vietnam is eliminated early at the 2026 Asian Games, I will be the first to admit I was wrong. But based on my 14 years of watching matches, I believe this decision will create a new golden generation. Players like Quoc Viet, Thanh Nhan, or any of those 23 names, will grow immensely when facing Japan, South Korea, or Iran at the Asian Games – opponents they would never meet at the club level. The stadium may not be as full as at SEA Games, but I have never run out of an audience in my mind. Vietnamese football is at a crossroads: one path leads to the World Cup, the other to honorary medals that do not shape the future. VFF has chosen the first path. I bet on that path, not because I am rich, but because I have seen too many mid-tier teams throw away big ambitions to chase small victories. Football is a game of long-term decisions. Today, U23 Vietnam lacks stars, but the bigger picture is drawing a national team capable of competing at the continental level by 2030. And when that happens, we will look back at the 2026 Asian Games squad as a historic milestone – where the next generation was baptized by fire to become true warriors. The only question left is: are you patient enough to wait?