Naturalizing players for the Vietnam national team: A turning point or just a temporary fix?

26/09/2025 09:41:00 ChampionChatter

For many, the Vietnam Football Federation’s (VFF) acceptance of naturalization applications for five players is seen as a timely "boost" amid the numerous challenges facing the national team. But is this truly a game-changer or merely a short-term solution?

1. While Patrick Lê Giang has Vietnamese blood, the foreign players applying for naturalization meet FIFA’s residency requirements. Among them, the 1.95m tall center-back Gustavo has played for Viettel, Sài Gòn, and helped Đông Á Thanh Hóa win the 2023-2024 National Cup. Patrick Lê Giang stands out with his quick reflexes and consistently ranks among the best goalkeepers in this V.League season.

The main reason comes from the pressure of coach Kim Sang-sik, who is targeting Patrick and Gustavo to reinforce the squad for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, especially the match against Malaysia in March 2026. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has sent official letters to the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Public Security to support Gustavo’s paperwork, stressing that he is "compatible with Vietnamese football" to aim for the World Cup. This continues the naturalization history like Đặng Văn Lâm or Filip Nguyễn, but on a larger scale, aiming to catch up with regional trends like Indonesia and Malaysia – teams that have strengthened through mass naturalization.

Many opinions suggest this is a smart move, helping the Vietnam team "transform" towards balancing strength and technique. Coach Kim Sang-sik wants a stronger defense with Gustavo to solve weaknesses in aerial duels and physical clashes – as revealed clearly in the loss to Malaysia last June. And in the future, he might also develop more pure Vietnamese center-backs with good height like Đinh Quang Kiệt (1.96m) and Nguyễn Hiểu Minh (1.84m), to create a "solid" backline. Regarding this, expert Đoàn Minh Xương commented: "Having many clubs submit naturalization applications is positive, helping the V.League improve and giving the national team more options."

Gustavo Santos was personally proposed for naturalization by Coach Kim Sang Sik

2. However, there are considerable concerns about long-term risks. The naturalized players this time are all over 30 years old, just a "short-term option" when the team is lacking, as Mr. Xương analyzed: "By 2027, they will be old and won’t solve the root problems." Naturalization could reduce opportunities for domestic young talents, like U23 Vietnam, leading to "foreign player syndrome" similar to Thailand in the 2010s.

VFF President Trần Quốc Tuấn has stated: "Mass naturalization could weaken the domestic league system, affecting youth training and identity." In fact, Indonesia, despite naturalizing players, still lost 0-6 to Japan in World Cup qualifiers, proving that "foreign players only address surface issues." Meanwhile, some experts worry that foreign players lack the necessary "fighting spirit." Instead, efforts should focus on strengthening local talent, as some V-League clubs are investing in youth academies or utilizing overseas Vietnamese resources from when they are young and full of potential.

What are the potential impacts and prospects of naturalization? Gustavo and Patrick Lê Giang might be key factors helping Vietnam repay Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers and defend the AFF Cup title. But in the long term, VFF needs a balanced policy: supplementing naturalized players alongside youth investment, like building U-league systems for young teams to play more.

VFF’s preparation to naturalize a group of players shows it could be a golden opportunity if combining internal and external forces, but risky without sustainable strategy. VFF must be transparent and persistent in grassroots development, as Mr. Tuấn said: "Football requires patience." In any case, these five applications demonstrate that Vietnamese football is "thinking big," instead of just sticking to regional goals.

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