South Korean media reveals 'secret weapon' of Vietnam National Team, fans divided in debate

South Korean media has paid close attention to the Vietnam national team after coach Kim Sang-sik summoned a record number of naturalized players for the 2026 ASEAN Championship, prompting divergent views among supporters.

On the eve of the 2026 ASEAN Championship, the Vietnam national team has unexpectedly become a focus of South Korean media due to having the highest number of naturalized players ever in a single training camp. Coach Kim Sang-sik's decision not only reflects his ambition to defend Southeast Asia's top spot but has also sparked contrasting opinions among fans.

According to Ajunews, coach Kim Sang-sik has called up 28 players for the 2026 ASEAN Championship. Notably, this squad includes five naturalized players: Nguyen Xuan Son, Do Hoang Hen, Le Giang Patrik, Nguyen Tai Loc, and Ngo Dang Khoa. This is considered an unprecedented number in the history of the Vietnam national team.

Among the aforementioned names, goalkeeper Patrik has drawn special attention from South Korean media. Born in 1992, the shot-stopper previously played for Slovakia's youth teams before moving to Vietnam in 2023. Standing nearly 1.90m tall with extensive experience, Patrik is expected to boost competition in the goalkeeping position for the "Golden Star Warriors."

Another name generating significant interest is Ngo Dang Khoa. The midfielder, born in 2006, holds dual Vietnamese-Australian heritage and developed through Perth Glory's academy. With the ability to play flexibly across multiple attacking positions, the young player scored five goals last season and has been given an opportunity by coach Kim Sang-sik to join the national team.

In addition, Brazilian-origin striker Nguyen Tai Loc makes his first appearance after completing Vietnam's naturalization procedures in April. His inclusion promises to provide the Vietnam national team with another attacking option alongside Xuan Son and Hoang Hen.

On the flip side, the squad still lacks some notable figures. Goalkeeper Nguyen Filip and defender Cao Pendant Quang Vinh are absent due to their commitments with Cong An Ha Noi in the AFC Champions League Elite play-offs. Meanwhile, Tien Linh, the top scorer of the 2024 ASEAN Championship, remains excluded due to form that has not met requirements.

According to Ajunews, the Vietnam national team's use of five naturalized players has sparked lively debate among fans. Some worry that the national team's identity could be diluted as the number of naturalized players increases. However, many others argue this is an inevitable trend given that rivals like Indonesia or Malaysia are also strengthening their squads with quality naturalized players.

The Vietnam national team will gather in Hanoi from June 22 before heading to South Korea for a training camp from July 2 to 14. After a friendly match against Myanmar, coach Kim Sang-sik will finalize the roster for the 2026 ASEAN Championship, where Vietnam aims to successfully defend their regional title.