Breaking Vietnamese football news today 21/6: Special move by Xuan Son; Ho Chi Minh City 1 wins opening match of National Women's Championship

Vietnam football update for June 21: Xuân Son makes a notable move; HCMC 1 claims victory in debut match of women's top flight

Xuân Son's unusual action

Striker Nguyễn Xuân Son remains under contract with Thép Xanh Nam Định until 2031, so he pays no attention to transfer rumors linking him to Thai club Kanchaburi FC.

Yesterday, his verified personal account with over 619,000 followers was renamed from "Rafaelson" to "Nguyen Xuan Son".

The 1997-born forward's move came just days after news emerged that Kanchanaburi FC, coached by Park Hang-seo, had him on their radar.

Xuân Son and his family just enjoyed a break after the 2025/26 season ended, and he will report to Hanoi on June 22 to join the Vietnamese national team for the 2026 Asean Cup preparations.

Xuân Son and his teammates will train in Hanoi before a two-week training camp in South Korea from July 2 to July 14.

After returning home, Vietnam will play a friendly against Myanmar at Thái Nguyên Stadium on July 18, then kick off Group A of the 2026 AFF Cup against Timor Leste on July 24.

During the 2024 AFF Cup, Xuân Son won the Golden Boot with 7 goals in 5 matches and was also named the tournament's Best Player.

HCMC 1 wins season opener in women's national league

Defending champions TP.HCM I made an impressive start in the 2026 National Women's Football Championship – Thái Sơn Bắc Cup, thrashing TP.HCM II 5-0 in the opening match on the afternoon of June 20.

TP.HCM I completely dominated their opponents. After several missed chances, Cù Thị Huỳnh Như broke the deadlock in the 41st minute, sending the champions into halftime with a lead.

In the second half, TP.HCM I kept up the pressure. In the 70th minute, Đậu Nguyễn Quỳnh Anh doubled the advantage, before K'Thủa scored two consecutive goals in the 72nd and 81st minutes to complete a brace. In the 87th minute, Phan Thị Trang sealed the 5-0 victory for her side.

In the other fixture at the same time, Hà Nội I also showed their superiority by beating Hà Nội II 5-1. Meanwhile, the match between Thái Nguyên T&T and Phong Phú Hà Nam ended in a 1-1 draw.

With such a promising start, TP.HCM I and Hà Nội I have already established themselves as top contenders for the 2026 National Women's Football Championship – Thái Sơn Bắc Cup title.

Hồ Tấn Tài could join Trường Tươi Đồng Nai

Defender Hồ Tấn Tài is likely to become a new signing for Trường Tươi Đồng Nai ahead of the 2026/27 season. This is seen as a notable addition for the club that just earned promotion to V.League 1.

The 1997-born player's specialty is right-back, a position where he has worn the Vietnam national team shirt for many years. Standing 1.80m tall and with good tackling ability, Hồ Tấn Tài can also play as a right-sided center-back in a three-man defense.

Recruiting an experienced campaigner like Hồ Tấn Tài shows Trường Tươi Đồng Nai's ambition in their first season back in V.League.

If the deal goes through, the Southeast region club will gain an additional quality player who can bring solidity and flexibility to their defensive setup.