Seeing Malaysia get penalized by FIFA shows that Vietnam's national team was right!

Vietnam’s national team carries out player naturalization carefully and openly, adhering strictly to FIFA's protocols, enhancing the team’s strength without encountering controversies as Malaysia did.

Naturalizing players is a trend in Asia and Southeast Asia, but not every country manages it carefully. However, after unfortunate incidents like in Malaysia, where many players were found by FIFA to have invalid documents, Vietnam chooses a cautious path, prioritizing internal development and only adding foreign-born or overseas Vietnamese players who truly stand out, while maintaining opportunities for domestic talents.

Over the past two years, Vietnam’s national team has welcomed notable cases such as overseas Vietnamese Nguyễn Filip, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh, and naturalized player Nguyễn Xuân Sơn. All have undergone rigorous approval processes, complying with legal requirements and FIFA standards to ensure every player called up is legitimate and officially qualified.

Naturalized players must meet clear criteria: living and playing continuously in Vietnam for at least 5 years, overseas Vietnamese must prove clear lineage up to the F2 generation. Their documents are verified and certified according to FIFA standards to guarantee all players on the team are legal and properly qualified. This thorough verification helps avoid any legal disputes or questions about legitimacy when representing the national team.

Currently, many players are in the “waiting list” for naturalization, including Gustavo (Da Nang Club), Hendrio (Hanoi Club), and overseas Vietnamese Adou Minh, Kevin Pham Ba, Kyle Colonna. The number of naturalized players called up each time is carefully considered to both improve team quality and preserve opportunities for domestic players.

Thanks to strict and cautious procedures, Vietnam has never faced scandals related to naturalized players. This strategy helps the team strengthen, maintain credibility, and allows players to fully contribute to the national colors without any suspicion or controversy.