Coach Kim Sang-sik and Vietnam U23 team head to Southeast Asian U23 Championship

Coach Kim Sang-sik and 23 Vietnamese players have arrived in Indonesia to compete in the Southeast Asian U23 Championship as the defending champions.

After three weeks of training in Ba Ria Vung Tau, coach Kim and the Vietnam U23 team members arrived at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City this morning to fly to Indonesia.

The day before, the Korean coach finalized the roster, reducing it from 28 to 23 players. The five players cut were goalkeeper Pham Dinh Hai, defenders Nguyen Hong Phuc and Ho Van Cuong, midfielder Nguyen Duc Viet, and Czech-Vietnamese forward Bui Alex.

Central defender Pham Ly Duc comes from Hoang Anh Gia Lai Football Club (HAGL). The 22-year-old player from Tay Ninh province, a product of the Nutifood JMG training academy, played for Ba Ria Vung Tau for two seasons in the First Division before joining U21 HAGL, winning the national championship at that age level in 2024.

In the 2024-2025 V-League season, the 1.82-meter-tall center-back was promoted to HAGL's first team. He immediately secured a starting position, playing in 18 matches, scoring three goals and providing one assist.

Ly Duc was called up to the national team by coach Kim in March.

23-year-old midfielder Viktor Le (blond hair), of Vietnamese-Russian descent. He developed in the CSKA Moscow academy, plays for Ha Tinh Club in the V-League, and is participating in the Southeast Asian U23 Championship for the first time.

Forward Nguyen Dinh Bac receives gifts from a female fan before departure.

Defender Khuat Van Khang (left) is only 22 years old but has extensive experience in both the national team and the U23 team. The Phu Tho native won the 2024 ASEAN Cup, the 2023 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, and a bronze medal at the 2023 SEA Games.

The 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship takes place from 15-29/7 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Vietnam is in Group B and will face Laos on 19/7 and Cambodia on 22/7.

After a three-hour flight, the players arrived at the airport in Jakarta at 1 p.m. Coach Kim and his team were given priority access for quick immigration.

Vietnam won the tournament in the last two editions, in 2022 and 2023, and aims to defend their title this time.

The 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship will take place from 15-29/7 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Vietnam is in Group B, facing Laos on 19/7 and Cambodia on 22/7.