The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) confirmed Rafaelson’s inclusion in the preliminary list submitted to tournament organizers on Nov. 17.
The Nam Dinh FC striker had completed his naturalization process in September and has adopted the Vietnamese name Nguyen Xuan Son.
In a press conference on Friday at the VFF headquarters, Vice President Tran Anh Tu said all necessary procedures to report Son’s case to FIFA and the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) have been completed. “We are awaiting FIFA’s confirmation of his eligibility to officially call him up to the national team,” Tu said.
Nguyen Xuan Son, or Rafaelson, celebrates his hat-trick in Nam Dinh’s 4-1 victory over Binh Duong in a match of the V-League on Nov. 20, 2024. Photo by Read/Lam Thoa |
According to FIFA regulations, Son falls under the category of naturalized players who must have “lived continuously in the territory of the relevant national team” for at least five years after turning 10. FIFA interprets this to mean a player must be physically present in the relevant territory for a minimum of 183 days in each 12-month period from the start of residency. This interpretation has caused uncertainty regarding Son’s eligibility.
The VFF has provided legal documents and evidence to FIFA to argue that Son meets the criteria. The 1997-born striker arrived in Vietnam in December 2019 and signed with Nam Dinh FC on Jan. 12, 2020. However, FIFA does not consider the signing date as the start of residency.
Son’s abilities have been proven over five V-League seasons, where he has played for Nam Dinh, Da Nang, and Binh Dinh. Excluding the 2021 season, which was canceled due to Covid-19, he has scored 75 goals in 100 matches across the V-League, National Cup, and Super Cup.
He holds the record for most goals in a single V-League season with 31 (2023-2024), surpassing Le Huynh Duc’s 25-goal record from 1996. Despite injuries this season, he has still managed to score seven goals in six matches, sharing the top scorer position with Nguyen Tien Linh (Binh Duong) and Leonardo Artur (Cong An Ha Noi).
Even if deemed eligible, Son’s participation in the AFF Cup 2024 is not guaranteed. “The decision to call him up depends on coach Kim Sang-sik,” VFF’s Vice President Tu said.
Son has yet to join the national team and could not attend the training camp in South Korea due to his club’s AFC Champions League Two 2024-2025 commitments.
Fellow striker Nguyen Tien Linh expressed optimism about Son’s potential call-up, believing it will be a good sign for the national team. The Brazilian-born striker should adapt quickly due to his long tenure in Vietnam and experience with multiple V-League clubs. “The whole team will support him both in training and daily life. The important thing is for Son to adjust to the environment of the national team, where the best players in Vietnamese football come together,” Linh said.
In gameweek 9 of the 2024-2025 V-League season on Nov. 20, Son scored a hat-trick, earning Nam Dinh a 4-1 victory over Binh Duong.
The 27-year-old striker affirmed his readiness for a national team call-up, saying, “I have prepared everything and I am in my best mindset. Whenever Vietnam needs me, I will give 100%.”
The national team previously called up players without Vietnamese heritage during the 2008-2009 period, such as Phan Van Santos, Dinh Hoang La, Dinh Hoang Max, and Huynh Kesley Alves. However, these players only participated in friendly matches over a short period.
For the past 15 years, Vietnam has maintained a policy of not calling up players without Vietnamese lineage. This decision depended on broader sports policies rather than the independent discretion of federations. However, attitudes have shifted, and Son is considered a pilot case.
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