Son, 29, was captaining Vietnam from kickoff for the first time when he went down without contact in the 60th minute at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, Indonesia, just after controlling the ball, turning and accelerating in midfield.
He left the field immediately and was replaced by Nguyen Hai Long.
An MRI scan at a Bandung hospital on Sept. 27 showed a grade 2 hamstring tear, which doctors said needs at least six weeks to heal.
“This is a sad moment. I really wanted to give everything for the country and bring home one more title,” Son wrote on Facebook.
“It’s a pity, but that’s football. I will cheer my teammates on as they fight for the best result, and I will do everything I can to come back stronger as soon as possible.”
Son will fly home on Sept. 28. The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) will cover his medical costs, as the injury occurred on national team duty.
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Nguyen Xuan Son (12) leaves the field injured during Vietnam’s 1-0 win over the Philippines in their FIFA ASEAN Cup Group B opener at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, Indonesia, Sept. 26, 2026. Photo by Duc Dong |
The Brazilian-born striker has scored 16 goals in 18 matches for Vietnam since his debut in December 2024.
He was top scorer and most valuable player at the 2024 ASEAN Championship with seven goals, and shared the top-scorer award with five goals when Vietnam defended the title in August.
The FIFA ASEAN Cup, a tournament FIFA is staging for the first time, does not allow teams to replace injured players other than goalkeepers once play begins. That leaves coach Kim Sang-sik with four forwards: Pham Gia Hung, Nguyen Dinh Bac, Williams Minh Hoang and Nguyen Tai Loc.
Son had returned to his club, Thep Xanh Nam Dinh, in poor physical condition after the ASEAN Championship. He played only the final 23 minutes of a 4-0 win over Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the V-League season opener on Sept. 6, then sat out a 3-0 loss to Da Nang on Sept. 11.
He broke his right tibia and fibula in the second leg of the 2024 ASEAN Championship final against Thailand in January 2025, an injury that kept him out for about 10 months.
Kim is already without centerback Nguyen Thanh Chung and midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai through injury for FIFA ASEAN Cup.
Captain Nguyen Hoang Duc, who did not play in the opener because of an adductor injury, is racing to be fit for Vietnam’s second Group B game, against Thailand on Sept. 29.
Bac’s first-half goal gave Vietnam the win over the Philippines on Sept. 26. The team sits second in Group B with three points, level with Thailand but behind on goal difference after the Thais beat Pakistan 4-0.
Vietnam play Pakistan on Oct. 2, and only the group winner advances to the Oct. 5 final.