Breaking football news at noon on June 25: Vietnam's national team undergoes a major overhaul

Amid uncertainty, Minh Khoa chooses to remain at Becamex TP.HCM, while Vietnam's national team experiences a sweeping reform under Kim Sang-sik, and Canada, South Korea, along with various European clubs, spark significant movements from the World Cup scene to the transfer window.

Minh Khoa secures his future

Amidst the intense interest in his future and Becamex TP.HCM going through a period of upheaval, Vo Hoang Minh Khoa has decided to continue his commitment to his hometown club. The midfielder born in 2001 admitted that he had felt "confused and lost" when facing many attractive offers from other clubs. However, after several meetings with the management, he gained a clearer understanding of the team's direction and ambitions, leading him to choose to stay and support them during this difficult period. Minh Khoa emphasized that he could not leave when the collective needed the solidarity of its players. Moreover, his love for his hometown was also a key reason for his continued commitment. Minh Khoa's decision to stay is seen as a positive signal in the process of rebuilding Becamex TP.HCM's squad ahead of the new season.

The major overhaul of Vietnam's national team

To prepare for the goal of defending the ASEAN Championship title, Coach Kim Sang-sik has implemented a significant personnel overhaul by excluding up to 13 players who had previously won the ASEAN Championship from the training camp list. Many experienced figures such as Tien Linh, Tuan Hai, Van Thanh, and Nguyen Filip were not included, making way for new faces. Notably, naturalized players and overseas Vietnamese like Ngo Dang Khoa, Nguyen Tai Loc (Geovane), and Le Giang Patrik received their first opportunities, alongside a group of young players who graduated from the U23 Vietnam team. The competition for spots is expected to be fierce, as the national team will only finalize 23 places for the 2026 ASEAN Championship. This is considered a strategic move by Coach Kim Sang-sik to rejuvenate the squad, create new momentum for Vietnam's national team in defending their title, and build for the long-term future.

Canada confidently advances to the knockout stage

Despite losing 1-2 to Switzerland in the final group stage match, Canada still secured a spot in the knockout round of the 2026 World Cup, positioned as a team full of ambition. The loss in Vancouver cost them the top spot in Group B, but it did not affect their progression ticket, as Coach Jesse Marsch's side had already achieved their goal of advancing past the group stage. Defender Alistair Johnston stated that being in the knockout rounds is what matters most, while emphasizing that Canada is ready to create surprises when "anything can happen".

After ending a 36-year wait to return to the World Cup in 2022, Canada is no longer satisfied with merely participating; they aim to go deeper. The North American team will face the second-place team from Group A in the Round of 16 in Los Angeles, confident in continuing to make history at this tournament.

South Africa stuns South Korea

South Korea started proactively and created several dangerous chances in the first half. Kim Min-jae headed the ball close-range in the 3rd minute but failed to beat South Africa's defense, while Lee Kang-in had a shooting opportunity in the 8th minute that went wide of the post. South Africa gradually regained control and nearly opened the scoring in the 30th minute through a shot by Evidence Makgopa, forcing goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu to make an excellent save.

In the second half, Coach Hong Myeong-bo brought on Son Heung-min and several other attacking players to change the game, but the turning point belonged to South Africa. In the 63rd minute, Thapelo Maseko scored the decisive goal after an assist from Moremi, helping South Africa win 1-0 and secure a spot in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup. Meanwhile, South Korea found themselves at a disadvantage and had to wait for results from other groups to keep their hopes of progressing alive.

Major upheaval on the transfer market

Tottenham Hotspur is creating a notable stir by shifting focus to Mateus Fernandes of West Ham after failing in their efforts to sign Sandro Tonali, despite previously sending an offer as high as £80 million to Newcastle, which was rejected. According to the BBC, Fernandes has now become Spurs' top target, and this move could directly impact Manchester United, as the "Red Devils" are also closely monitoring the Portuguese midfielder to bolster their midfield.

Meanwhile, Chelsea is reportedly set to demand £75 million if Manchester City wants to sign Malo Gusto, the French right-back who is highly regarded by Coach Enzo Maresca. In another development, Arsenal received positive signals as Manu Kone is said to prefer a move to the Emirates Stadium for a fee around £39 million. Atletico Madrid has also reached an agreement to sign Alejandro Grimaldo from Bayer Leverkusen for €20 million, while AC Milan has entered the race to sign Darwin Nunez from Al Hilal, creating a lively summer transfer period in Europe.