Vietnam National Team receives great news ahead of the crucial match against Malaysia

The Vietnam national team has been continuously receiving positive updates regarding their squad and form, providing a significant boost before the decisive clash with Malaysia.

Before the critical encounter with Malaysia at home, scheduled for March 31, the Vietnam team is experiencing very positive developments in terms of personnel. Many key players have gradually returned from injury, giving coach Kim Sang Sik more options and flexibility in building the lineup for what is considered the "final" of the group.

Most notably, Hồ Tấn Tài has made a comeback after nearly a year out due to a ligament injury. The top right-back for Vietnam has been training steadily with his club for over a month and even played in a recent friendly, showing good fitness and ball control.

Not only Tấn Tài, but Nguyễn Xuân Sơn has also fully recovered and is ready to return to competitive play. Meanwhile, Đoàn Văn Hậu has shown promising signs by participating in the latest friendly match and is likely to return in the second phase of the V-League, opening opportunities for national selection.

Alongside the domestic players, Vietnam also has hopes from naturalized players. Gustavo from SHB Đà Nẵng has officially obtained Vietnamese citizenship under the name Đỗ Phi Long, while Hendrio of Hà Nội FC completed his procedures earlier and adopted the Vietnamese name Đỗ Hoàng Hên, adding depth to the squad.

If they maintain consistent performance in the V-League, both naturalized players could be considered by coach Kim Sang Sik for the March 2026 squad. Additionally, Công Phượng has returned to play after a long injury, while Minh Vương has impressed with his strong form in the First Division.

These positive signs about the squad come at a time when Vietnam has just improved its FIFA ranking. According to the rankings released at the end of December, the red-shirted team rose three places to 107th in the world and 19th in Asia, raising hopes of returning to the Top 100 soon if they perform well in 2026.