Will the Vietnam national team play the AFF Cup 2026 with the strongest naturalized squad in history?

The AFF Cup 2026 might represent a unique turning point for Vietnam's national team, with head coach Kim Sang-sik potentially having the most robust lineup of naturalized and expatriate players in the competition's history.

In recent years, Vietnamese football has gradually shifted its stance on using foreign-born players at the national team level. From the success of Đặng Văn Lâm to the breakthrough of Nguyễn Xuân Son, naturalized and overseas Vietnamese players are bringing fresh energy to the squad under coach Kim Sang-sik.

Beyond enhancing technical quality, these players are also raising the standards of training and performance for the Vietnam national team. If all eligible candidates are gathered in the coming period, the AFF Cup 2026 could see Vietnam field its largest-ever naturalized contingent.

Đặng Văn Lâm is one of the pioneers of this trend. The goalkeeper, who developed in Russia's youth system, played a key role in winning the AFF Cup 2018 and finishing as runners-up in the AFF Cup 2022. Standing at 1.89 m with impressive reflexes and command of the penalty area, Văn Lâm set a new benchmark for goalkeeping in Vietnam.

At the AFF Cup 2024, Nguyễn Xuân Son made a special impact by scoring seven goals in just five matches. Despite missing the first four games of the tournament, the Brazilian-born striker convincingly won the Golden Boot. His ability to score, hold up play, assist, and dictate the attack gave Vietnam's frontline a distinctly different strength.

Meanwhile, Nguyễn Filip also contributed significantly in goal. Although not the most standout figure at the AFF Cup 2024, the 1992-born goalkeeper is regarded as possessing European-level class. According to commentator Vũ Quang Huy, Nguyễn Filip serves as a model for Vietnamese goalkeepers to learn from and develop.

Before the AFF Cup 2026, Kim Sang-sik's squad is likely to receive further significant reinforcements. Lê Giang Patrik has already obtained Vietnamese citizenship and is awaiting completion of FIFA-related procedures to become eligible for the national team. If all goes smoothly, the goalkeeper from CLB Công an TP.HCM could feature in the regional tournament.

On the flanks, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh is expected to make his AFF Cup debut after demonstrating his capability in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. Meanwhile, Đỗ Hoàng Hên (Hendrio Araujo) officially obtained Vietnamese citizenship in October 2025 and is seen as a quality addition to the midfield.

The midfielder, trained at La Masia, is highly regarded for his one-touch handling, long-range shooting, and ability to organize play. In his debut against Malaysia, Hoàng Hên left his mark with an assist for Xuân Son's goal, showing potential to become an important player for Vietnam in the near future.

Beyond the names mentioned, coach Kim Sang-sik also has other notable options such as Ngô Đăng Khoa, a young midfielder formerly with Perth Glory, and Nguyễn Tài Lộc (Geovane Magno), who scored nine goals in 23 matches to help Ninh Bình lead the V-League this season.

If Xuân Son, Hoàng Hên, Văn Lâm, Nguyễn Filip, and Quang Vinh all join the squad, the Vietnam national team could certainly enter the AFF Cup 2026 with at least five players of foreign blood or overseas Vietnamese background. This number could even increase if cases like Đăng Khoa or Tài Lộc are called up.

However, increasing the number of naturalized players also raises the need for balance in long-term development strategy. Indonesia's experience shows that over-reliance on naturalized resources can affect the motivation of young talents. Therefore, despite having the opportunity to build the strongest naturalized squad in history, the Vietnam national team still needs cautious steps to maintain sustainable development.