Here are the top 5 candidates.
1. Jason Quang Vinh (left-back, Cong An Hanoi)
With Doan Van Hau out for a long time due to injury, Vietnam have struggled to find a suitable replacement for the left-back position. Players like Nguyen Phong Hong Duy, Vo Minh Trong and Phan Tuan Tai could not match Hau’s balance of strong defense and effective attacking play.
To fill Hau’s position, Cong An Ha Noi (CAHN) spent a lot of money recruiting Jason Quang Vinh. Born to a French father and a Vietnamese mother, Jason has been performing well in the V. League. He is currently finalizing his Vietnamese citizenship, and once this is completed, coach Kim Sang-sik can call him up to the national team, similar to the cases of goalkeepers Filip Nguyen and Dang Van Lam.
Jason Quang Vinh (L) during a game of CAHN. Photo by Read/Lam Thoa |
Born in 1997, Jason has previously played for Ligue 2 clubs Sochaux and Quevilly-Rouen in France, as well as the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer (MLS). He has represented France at U16 and U18 levels but remains eligible to play for Vietnam. In several interviews, Jason has expressed his desire to represent Vietnam.
2. Legey Adou Minh (center-back, Hong Linh Ha Tinh)
Adou Minh made a great impression in the first round of the 2024-2025 V. League, scoring the only goal in Ha Tinh’s win over defending champion Nam Dinh FC.
Standing at 1.8 m and 70 kg, the defender born in 1997 played for Racing Besancon in the fourth football division of France before joining Ha Tinh.
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Legey Adou Minh (bottom) makes a tackle during a game for Hong Linh Ha Tinh. Photo by Read/Xuan Thuy |
“Adou Minh is showing huge progress,” Ha Tinh coach Nguyen Thanh Cong said. He is focused, solid and has a good connection with his teammates.
Vietnam’s national team, once abundant in center-backs has faced recent struggles with key players like Que Ngoc Hai, Bui Tien Dung, and Do Duy Manh suffering from injuries or dips in form. If Adou Minh completes his naturalization process, he could compete for a starting position in the national team with his current form.
3. Viktor Le (midfielder, Hong Linh Ha Tinh)
Alongside Adou Minh, Ha Tinh also introduced another player of Vietnamese descent, midfielder Viktor Le. Born in 2003 to a Vietnamese father and a Russian mother, Viktor was a product of CSKA Moscow’s youth academy and moved to Vietnam for a professional career.
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Viktor Le (front) during a game of Hong Linh Ha Tinh. Photo by Read/Lam Thoa |
Viktor played for Binh Dinh FC in early 2023 and helped the team finish second in the V. League before joining Ha Tinh. At 21, Viktor has tremendous potential and has expressed a strong desire to represent Vietnam.
“I really want to play for the national team because this is my home, where my father was born and raised,” he said.
4. Kyle Colonna (center-back, Hanoi FC)
Hanoi FC made several high-profile signings for the 2024-2025 season, including former Dutch U17 captain Keziah Veendorp and Nigerian striker Augustine Chidi Kwem, but the club’s most successful acquisition may have been center-back Kyle Colonna, as the other two did not live up to expectations.
Born in 1999 to a Vietnamese mother and an American father, Colonna played at San Diego State University for four years, captaining the team for two seasons. After impressing in the U.S. college system, he signed with New Mexico United before joining Hanoi FC.
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Kyle Colonna (R) is Hanoi FC’s best signing in the new season. Photo by Read/Lam Thoa |
“My mother always told me about Vietnam and she often cooked traditional dishes for me. It’s always been a dream of mine to return here and play football,” Colonna said, adding that his ultimate goal is to earn a spot on the national team.
5. Patrik Le Giang (goalkeeper, HCMC FC)
Following in the footsteps of keepers Van Lam and Filip Nguyen, Patrik is another overseas Vietnamese goalkeeper with the potential to represent Vietnam. Born in 1992 to a Vietnamese father and Slovakian mother, Patrik joined Cong An Ha Noi (CAHN) in 2023 but later moved to HCMC on loan, where he excelled.
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Goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang makes a save for HCMC FC during a game. Photo by Read/Hieu Luong |
Patrik was named the best goalkeeper in the last V. League season, outperforming Filip Nguyen and other peers.
Despite an offer from CAHN to extend his contract, Patrik chose to sign a three-year deal with HCMC, which included a term that the club must support him in obtaining Vietnamese citizenship. He said that playing for the national team has always been his dream.
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