Golden Ball winner Ho Van Yi returns, Vietnam futsal sets high goals at Southeast Asian championship

The veteran goalkeeper Ho Van Yi has returned to the Vietnam futsal national team's training list as they prepare for the 2026 Southeast Asian Futsal Championship.

According to information from the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), the experienced goalkeeper of Vietnam futsal was previously absent from the national team due to not fully recovering from an injury.

The recall of Ho Van Yi demonstrates head coach Diego Giustozzi's expectations for this goalkeeper's experience and caliber. If he meets the professional requirements and ensures his physical condition, Ho Van Yi will be a crucial addition to the Vietnam futsal team's defense at the regional tournament.

In the goalkeeper position, Nguyen Quoc Giau (born 2009) is also included. The young goalkeeper is given the opportunity to train with the national team to hone his skills and accumulate more match experience, preparing for the future.

Fundamentally, the squad that participated in the 2026 Asian Futsal Championship continues to be trusted by coach Diego Giustozzi for this training session. Names such as Gia Hung, Cong Vien, Manh Dung, Da Hai, and Ngoc Anh are all players with good expertise, having competed internationally multiple times and demonstrated battlefield composure.

Additionally, the coaching staff also provides opportunities to some new faces like Nguyen Thac Hieu or An Lam Toi to create more competition and test personnel during the preparation process.

According to the plan, the Vietnam futsal team will assemble from March 16 in Ho Chi Minh City. During the domestic training phase, the coaching staff will focus on enhancing physical fitness foundations, refining tactical aspects, and improving offensive organization and defensive solidity compared to the recent continental tournament.

After the domestic preparation phase, the Vietnam futsal team will go to Thailand for training before entering the official competition. There, coach Diego Giustozzi's team is scheduled to have two friendly matches with two top Thai futsal clubs, Hong Yen Takam and Blackpearl United. Among them, Hong Yen Takam is a club that has won the Thai League three consecutive times.

The coaching staff hopes these practice matches will help the team review their lineup, test their playing style, and adjust tactics before entering the tournament.

The 2026 Southeast Asian Futsal Championship will take place in Thailand from April 6 to April 12, 2026. After Cambodia's withdrawal, the tournament has eight teams, divided into two groups, each with four teams. The Vietnam futsal team is in Group A alongside Myanmar, Timor-Leste, and host Thailand.

According to professional assessments, the match between Vietnam and Thailand in the final group stage round is predicted to be decisive for the group's top spot, as both teams are rated higher than the remaining opponents. With the current squad and thorough preparation, the goal of coach Diego Giustozzi and his team is to secure a place in the final of this year's tournament.