OFFICIAL: Russian-born Vietnamese player called up to Vietnam U23 team

The Vietnam U23 squad continues to unveil additional new faces for the training camp ahead of the CFA Team China 2026 international friendly tournament. Notably, young midfielder Vadim Nguyen has been officially called up to the Vietnam U23 team.

This information was announced by SHB Da Nang Club on the club's official website. The Han River-based club congratulated its four players who will participate in the first training camp of Vietnam U23 in 2026, including Vadim Nguyen, Mai Quoc Tu, Le Nguyen Van Tho, and Nguyen Trung Nguyen.

Specifically, SHB Da Nang Club announced: “Congratulations to Vadim Nguyen along with three players Mai Quoc Tu (SHB Da Nang defender, currently playing for Dong Thap FC on loan), Le Nguyen Van Tho, and Nguyen Trung Nguyen (SHB Da Nang U21) for being called up to the Vietnam U23 squad for the first training camp of 2026.” 

Vadim Nguyen, born in 2005, has a Vietnamese father and a Russian mother. He stands 1.75m tall and can flexibly play both as a central midfielder and a winger. This young player developed in the academy of FK Rostov Club, a traditional team in the Russian Premier League. Training in a professional European football environment has given Vadim a solid technical foundation and impressive tactical understanding.

According to the plan, Vietnam U23 will gather in Hanoi on March 17 to prepare for the CFA Team China – Xi'an 2026 international tournament, held in Xi'an city (China) from March 25 to 31. This is a high-quality friendly tournament featuring four teams: host China, Vietnam, Thailand, and North Korea. The teams will compete in a single-round league format to determine the final rankings.

Before the official list was announced, many clubs in V.League and the First Division also confirmed their players' call-ups. Ninh Binh FC stated that three young players Thanh Trung, Le Phat, and Van Thuan will join the Vietnam U23 training camp after the 2025/26 National Cup quarter-final match against PVF-CAND FC.

Meanwhile, The Cong Viettel FC also has three representatives participating: Manh Hung, Dang Duong, and Cong Phuong. Among other clubs, Song Lam Nghe An FC has four players called up.

Compared to the most recent training camp for the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals, the composition of Vietnam U23 this time has many changes. Coach Kim Sang-sik has promoted several U23 key players to the National Team to prepare for international matches in March, including the match against Bangladesh and the crucial encounter with Malaysia. This opens a significant opportunity for many young players to test themselves at the U23 level.