Defenders Tran Dinh Trong and Doan Van Hau are among eight Cong an Ha Noi (CAHN) players called up to the national team. The remaining six names are: goalkeeper Nguyen Filip, defenders Cao Van Quang Vinh, Bui Hoang Viet Anh, and midfielders Le Van Do, Le Pham Thanh Long, and Nguyen Quang Hai.

This marks their first call-up under coach Kim Sang-sik, following extended periods away from the national squad. Van Hau's last appearance was in June 2023, under coach Philippe Troussier, when he played 63 minutes in a 1-0 friendly win over Syria. Dinh Trong's absence has been longer, with his last game being 62 minutes in a 4-0 friendly win against Singapore on 21/9/2022.

Vietnam center-back Tran Dinh Trong (red shirt) playing in a 4-0 friendly win against Singapore at Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City on 21/9/2022. Photo: Duc Dong

Vietnam center-back Tran Dinh Trong (red shirt) playing in a 4-0 friendly win against Singapore at Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City on 21/9/2022. Photo: Duc Dong

The careers of both players have been frequently interrupted by injuries. Tran Dinh Trong, born in 1997, tore ligaments in both knees in June 2019 and January 2023. These were interspersed with a foot bone chip surgery in January 2019 and a knee meniscus tear in August 2020. The Hanoi-born center-back has only regained stability since the 2023-2024 season.

Doan Van Hau, two years younger than Dinh Trong, was diagnosed with Achilles tendon inflammation in September 2023. The injury proved more complex than initially expected, requiring him to travel to Singapore for examination and undergo multiple surgeries. He made his official return to play on 3/12/2025, when CAHN drew one-one with Buriram United in the 2025-2026 ASEAN Club Cup.

Both players developed at the Hanoi youth academy. They were part of the Vietnam U19 team that finished 4th at the 2016 AFC U19 Championship, qualifying for the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup. Under coach Park Hang-seo, both Van Hau and Dinh Trong were key players in the national team's achievements, including finishing as U23 Asian Championship runners-up, 4th place at ASIAD, and winning the AFF Cup (now ASEAN Cup) in 2018.

Vietnam defender Doan Van Hau (red shirt) playing in a 1-0 friendly win against Syria at Thien Truong Stadium in Ninh Binh (formerly Nam Dinh) on 20/6/2023. Photo: Hieu Luong

Vietnam defender Doan Van Hau (red shirt) playing in a 1-0 friendly win against Syria at Thien Truong Stadium in Ninh Binh (formerly Nam Dinh) on 20/6/2023. Photo: Hieu Luong

After winning all domestic titles with Hanoi FC, Dinh Trong joined Binh Dinh in 2022 and then CAHN from the 2024-2025 season. Van Hau had an overseas stint with SC Heerenveen in the Dutch national league during the 2019-2020 season, before returning to Hanoi FC and joining CAHN at the start of the 2023 season.

The inclusion of Dinh Trong and Van Hau provides coach Kim Sang-sik with more quality options in defense. This comes ahead of the crucial match against Malaysia in the final round of Group F of the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. The game is scheduled to take place at Thien Truong Stadium in Ninh Binh on 31/3.

CAHN was initially expected to have nine players called up, but Nguyen Dinh Bac is suspended. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) issued the ban after the forward, born in 2004, received a red card in the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship third-place playoff, which ended in a 2-2 draw against South Korea before a 7-6 penalty shootout win.

Additionally, two Nam Dinh players, Nguyen Van Vi and naturalized Brazilian forward Nguyen Xuan Son, are confirmed to be included. Naturalized players such as Do Hoang Hen (Hendrio) and Do Phi Long (Gustavo Santos), both of Brazilian origin, along with overseas Vietnamese goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang, are also on the preliminary list.

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has sent the call-up list to the clubs. Coach Kim Sang-sik will discuss the selections with his coaching staff before announcing the final list, which is expected tomorrow, 11/3. The national team will gather on 22/3 in Ha Noi.

Vietnam currently sits second in Group F with 12 points, three points behind Malaysia. In the first leg on 10/6/2025, Vietnam lost 0-4. To claim the top spot, they need to win the upcoming match by a five-goal margin. If the margin is four goals, the two teams will have a penalty shootout to decide the ranking.

However, Malaysia faces the risk of being handed a 0-3 loss in two matches against Nepal and Vietnam in the final qualifiers. This is due to using naturalized players who violated eligibility rules. If this penalty is applied, coach Kim Sang-sik's team would certainly top Group F, regardless of the 31/3 match result, securing a spot in the Asian Cup 2027.