Vietnamese U23 team trials Bulgarian-Vietnamese midfielder

Midfielder Tran Thanh Trung has been called up to the national team by coach Kim Sang-sik, as part of the preparations for the 2026 Southeast Asian U23 qualifiers.

Born in 2005 to Vietnamese parents in Bulgaria, Tran Thanh Trung, also known as Do Nguyen Thanh Chung, is a promising box-to-box midfielder. He hails from Bulgaria, a country currently ranked 84th by FIFA. Trung has represented Bulgaria at the U17, U19, and U21 levels, including appearances in the U17 Euro 2022 finals and the U19 Euro 2023 qualifiers.

Trung has played for Slavia Sofia's first team since the 2022-2023 season. Before joining Ninh Binh, he played 46 matches in the Bulgarian national league, accumulating 2,555 minutes of playing time and scoring one goal. In the 2024-2025 season, he was ranked among the top three young players in Bulgaria.

Bulgarian-Vietnamese midfielder Tran Thanh Trung warms up with Ninh Binh before their 3-1 victory against Ha Tinh in the first round of the 2025-2026 V-League, at Ha Tinh Stadium on 17/8/2025. Photo: VPF

Tran Thanh Trung joined Ninh Binh at the start of the 2025-2026 season. The V-League newcomer finalized the transfer deal with Slavia Sofia for approximately 10 billion VND. Both parties signed a five-year contract with an option to extend for a further three years.

Ninh Binh FC confirmed that Trung holds a Vietnamese passport. Despite having played for the Bulgarian U21 team, he remains eligible to represent Vietnam's national teams. In early August, Ninh Binh and the player completed the necessary paperwork with FIFA to transfer his registration from Bulgaria to Vietnam. This was the final step required for Trung to be called up by coach Kim Sang-sik.

Initially, Trung struggled to adapt to the Vietnamese climate, often being substituted after one half due to exhaustion. In the first two rounds of the V-League, he started on the bench, coming on as a substitute for the final 30 minutes.

However, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) stated that Tran Thanh Trung's call-up is primarily for trial purposes. "In reality, coach Kim Sang-sik doesn't want to drastically alter the playing system he has meticulously developed and implemented in actual matches," the VFF announced.

Tran Thanh Trung replaces Nguyen Thanh Dat of The Cong Viettel in the squad. The remaining 23 players were all part of the team that competed in the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship. Except for striker Nguyen Thanh Nhan, who left the team due to injury before the tournament, the rest contributed to Vietnam's third consecutive regional title.

Russian-Vietnamese Viktor Le (number 14) trains with the Vietnamese U23 team at the Gelora Bung Karno auxiliary field on the afternoon of 28/7/2025, before facing Indonesia in the final of the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship. Photo: Hai Tu

Following the promotion of PVF-CAND and Ninh Binh, all U23 players now compete in the V-League. PVF-CAND leads with four players. Following closely behind are Thanh Hoa, Cong An Ha Noi, The Cong Viettel (3), Ha Noi FC, Da Nang, Ninh Binh (2), HAGL, SLNA, Cong An TP HCM, Hai Phong, and Ha Tinh (1).

The U23 Vietnam team will convene on 29/8, the same day as the national team. This is the date when all teams will have completed the third round of the V-League, except for the The Cong – Becamex TP HCM match scheduled for 30/8.

Group C of the 2026 Asian U23 qualifiers will take place at Viet Tri Stadium, Phu Tho. Vietnam will face Bangladesh (3/9), Singapore (6/9), and Yemen (9/9). Only the group winner is guaranteed a place in the finals, so coach Kim's objective is to win all matches.

U23 Vietnam National Football Team Squad List

Goalkeepers (3): Tran Trung Kien (HAGL), Cao Van Binh (SLNA), Nguyen Tan (Cong An TP HCM)

Defenders (7): Le Van Ha (Ha Noi FC), Nguyen Hieu Minh, Vo Anh Quan (PVF-CAND), Dang Tuan Phong (The Cong Viettel), Pham Ly Duc (Cong An Ha Noi), Nguyen Duc Anh (Da Nang), Nguyen Nhat Minh (Hai Phong)

Midfielders (10): Nguyen Van Truong (Ha Noi FC), Nguyen Xuan Bac (PVF-CAND), Nguyen Cong Phuong, Khuat Van Khang (The Cong Viettel), Pham Minh Phuc (Cong An Ha Noi), Nguyen Thai Son, Le Van Thuan (Thanh Hoa), Nguyen Phi Hoang (Da Nang), Viktor Le (Ha Tinh), Tran Thanh Trung (Ninh Binh)

Forwards (4): Nguyen Thanh Nhan (PVF-CAND), Nguyen Dinh Bac (Cong An Ha Noi), Nguyen Ngoc My (Thanh Hoa), Nguyen Quoc Viet (Ninh Binh).

2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers Group G Ticket Sales Plan

Tickets are sold exclusively online via the OneU app, with three price tiers: 100,000, 200,000, and 300,000 VND. The sale will be divided into three phases.

Phase 1: From 9:00 AM on 25/8/2025 to 11:59 PM on 27/8/2025, or until tickets are sold out, whichever comes first; spectators can simultaneously purchase tickets for the matches on 3/9, 6/9, and 9/9.

Phase 2: From 12:00 AM on 28/8/2025 to 11:59 PM on 2/9/2025, or until tickets are sold out, whichever comes first; spectators can simultaneously purchase tickets for the matches on 6/9 and 9/9.

Phase 3: From 12:00 AM on 3/9/2025 to 11:59 PM on 5/9/2025, or until tickets are sold out, whichever comes first; spectators can purchase tickets for the match on 9/9.

Hieu Luong

By VnExpress: https://vnexpress.net/u23-viet-nam-thu-nghiem-viet-kieu-bulgaria-4931385.html