U22 Vietnam team departs for SEA Games 33

On the morning of 1/12, coach Kim Sang-sik and his squad flew to Thailand, commencing their quest for the SEA Games 33 gold medal.

At 9:45, the team arrived at Tan Son Nhat airport to complete procedures for their 11:35 flight to Bangkok.

Khuat Van Khang, with extensive experience and achievements, was appointed team captain, while Nguyen Dinh Bac was named vice-captain.

Born in 2003, Van Khang has participated in major tournaments, including the 2023 Asian Cup Finals, 2024 U23 Asian Championship Finals, and 2024 ASEAN Cup. He was also a key player in Vietnam's 2025 U23 Southeast Asia Championship victory and qualification for the 2026 U23 Asian Championship Finals.

Forward Nguyen Quoc Viet (right) and his teammates happily posed for photos before departure. Quoc Viet stated his determination to score many goals to help the team achieve the highest possible results.

Central defender Pham Ly Duc (left) also expressed confidence in his SEA Games debut. Following a strong performance at the U23 Southeast Asia Championship, he is expected to be a solid defensive anchor for Vietnam at this SEA Games.

Goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien and overseas Vietnamese midfielder Viktor Le are making their debut at the Southeast Asian Games.

Previously, on the evening of 30/11, the team held a send-off ceremony and secured sponsorship from Acecook until 2030. U22 Vietnam's objective is the gold medal.

The team received priority processing from Vietnam Airlines, the national airline, to expedite procedures and save time.

Players and coaching staff were also granted fast-track immigration clearance.

The players appeared relaxed after completing their procedures and were eager to depart. Upon arrival in Thailand, the team is scheduled for a familiarization training session at a secondary pitch later the same afternoon.

In Group B, Vietnam will face Laos on 3/12 and Malaysia on 12/2/2026.

Coach Kim Sang-sik quietly exited the vehicle and proceeded to a private area for his procedures. He was then escorted through a separate pathway, avoiding interaction with the media or conversations with his players.

Earlier, speaking to the press, the South Korean tactician expressed excitement mixed with nervousness about his first SEA Games appearance.