Argentina's coach must find a new captain for the Vietnam team

Due to Đức Hòa's injury withdrawal, Vietnam's futsal team will appoint a new captain for the 2026 AFC Futsal Championship.

On December 29, Coach Diego Giustozzi announced the Vietnam futsal team roster to prepare for the 2026 AFC Futsal Championship, marking the notable return of several experienced players who had been absent due to injuries.

Most notably absent are two key veterans: Fixo Phạm Đức Hòa (withdrew due to injury) and Pivo Nguyễn Minh Trí (whose performance has been affected after a long recovery from surgery). Among them, Phạm Đức Hòa has been the team's spiritual leader and captain for a long time.

Therefore, the Vietnam futsal team will need a new captain for the 2026 AFC Futsal Championship. Đức Hòa’s absence leaves a gap in the team as they compete at such a high-level tournament. However, this also provides an opportunity for young, in-form players to step up and prove themselves.

A highlight of this roster is the comeback of the trio Trần Thái Huy, Châu Đoàn Phát, and Ngô Ngọc Sơn. All three missed SEA Games 33 due to not fully recovering their fitness and form, but they are now ready to return and strengthen the team's depth and competitive spirit. Notably, Châu Đoàn Phát was recently honored as the 2025 Futsal Golden Ball winner, while Từ Minh Quang and Nguyễn Đa Hải – recipients of the 2025 futsal Silver and Bronze Balls – also remain part of this squad.

As part of the preparation plan arranged by the Vietnam Football Federation, the futsal team will play two international friendly matches against Afghanistan on January 19 and 21, 2026, in Ho Chi Minh City. These matches serve as crucial tests for the coaching staff to evaluate the squad, refine tactics, and experiment with strategies before departing for Indonesia on January 27, 2026, to compete in the AFC Futsal Championship.

In this tournament, Vietnam is placed in Group B alongside strong opponents including the reigning Asian runners-up Thailand, Kuwait, and Lebanon. The group is highly competitive, requiring Coach Diego Giustozzi’s team to prepare thoroughly both technically and mentally.