Do Duy Manh sustained a knee injury while playing for Hanoi FC at the end of the V-League 2025-2026 season. Despite this, coach Kim Sang-sik included him in the current Vietnam national team squad preparing for the ASEAN Cup 2026.

The defender, born in 1996, traveled with the team to South Korea for training, showing promising signs when he returned to ball work. However, upon returning to Vietnam, an in-depth medical examination revealed that Manh required more time to reach optimal physical condition. Continuing to train and compete could impede his recovery process.

Defender Do Duy Manh during a Vietnam national team training session in Incheon, South Korea, on 11/7/2026. *Photo: VFF*

Manh is the third player to withdraw from the national team due to injury, following overseas Vietnamese midfielder Ngo Dang Khoa (playing for Cong an TP HCM) and defender Le Ngoc Bao (Ninh Binh). Midfielder Khuat Van Khang (The Cong) is also injured, but the coaching staff is awaiting further medical assessment results.

The Vietnam national team can make personnel changes to the preliminary 50-player squad registered with the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). The official 26-player roster will be finalized at the technical meeting on 23/7, one day before the opening match against Timor Leste.

Coach Kim Sang-sik still has ample defensive personnel, including Doan Van Hau, Nguyen Nhat Minh, Pham Xuan Manh, Nguyen Thanh Chung, Bui Hoang Viet Anh, Phan Tuan Tai, and Dinh Quang Kiet. However, he plans to add another central defender to maintain squad depth.

Defender Bui Hoang Viet Anh during a Vietnam national team training session in Incheon, South Korea, on 4/7/2026. *Photo: VFF*

Do Duy Manh, born in 1996, developed through the Hanoi youth academy. He joined the first team of Hanoi T&T (now Hanoi FC) in 2015 and has remained with the club, winning a full set of domestic football titles.

The Hanoi-born defender joined the national team in 2015 but missed the 2016 AFF Cup (now ASEAN Cup) due to injury. Two years later, he was part of the squad that won the Southeast Asian championship under coach Park Hang-seo. Manh had not missed any tournament until 2024, when he captained the national team under coach Kim Sang-sik.

Currently, Nguyen Quang Hai is the only player who has not missed an AFF Cup or ASEAN Cup since 2018. The 2018 championship-winning squad still includes goalkeeper Dang Van Lam and defender Doan Van Hau.

Vietnam aims for its fourth Southeast Asian championship title, seeking to match Singapore's record. The team boasts a strong offense with three naturalized Brazilian-born players: Nguyen Xuan Son (Rafaelson), Do Hoang Hen (Hendrio), and Nguyen Tai Loc (Geovane), alongside Nguyen Dinh Bac, who is currently in top form.

After two weeks of training in South Korea, which included three undefeated practice matches, the national team returned to train at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center in Hanoi. On 18/7, the team will have its final warm-up match against Myanmar in a friendly game at Thai Nguyen Stadium.

Hieu Luong