Nam Dinh FC will kick off their season with the 2024-2025 National Super Cup against Cong An Ha Noi (CAHN) at Thien Truong Stadium on 9/8. A week later, they begin their V-League title defense against Hai Phong in the opening match of the 2025-2026 season.

Ahead of the Super Cup, coach Vu Hong Viet reported the team's strong pre-season preparation. However, Brazilian-born striker Nguyen Xuan Son remains unavailable.

Nguyen Xuan Son undergoing rehabilitation in Brazil on 31/7/2025. Photo: *Instagram/Rafaelson_10*

"It's unlikely Xuan Son will play in the first half of this season," Viet said at a press conference in Hanoi on 5/8. "We hope he can return for the second half."

The striker, born in 1997, fractured his tibia and fibula in the second leg of the 2024 ASEAN Cup final in Thailand on 5/1. He underwent surgery and began rehabilitation in Vietnam earlier this year. In July, Xuan Son returned to Brazil to visit his family and continue his recovery with specialists. He is expected back in Vietnam in mid-August.

Xuan Son's absence is a significant loss for Nam Dinh, who will compete in four tournaments this season: the V-League, the National Cup, the AFC Champions League Two, and the Southeast Asian Club Cup. However, Viet is confident his team will achieve new heights. Their immediate goal is to leverage home advantage to defeat CAHN and win their second consecutive National Super Cup.

Nam Dinh has retained most of the squad that won last season's V-League title. Domestically, they have added central defender Dang Van Toi from Hai Phong and midfielder A Mit from Thanh Hoa. Departing are foreign players Rogerio Alves (to CAHN), Walber Motta, and Joseph Mpande (to PVF-CAND). Arriving are highly anticipated newcomers: South African midfielder Njabulo Blom, 2.06m English striker Kyle Hudlin, and Palestinian winger Mahmoud Eid.

Nam Dinh currently has 7 foreign players and is looking to add two more quality players. This is because the AFC Champions League Two has no limit on foreign players, while the Southeast Asian Club Cup and V-League allow 7.

"Nam Dinh has many foreign players due to participating in multiple tournaments, so competition for positions is fierce," said striker Nguyen Van Toan. "But this is a good thing. We aim to win every tournament we enter."

Hieu Luong