On the afternoon of January 4, the AFC released the confirmed registration list for each squad attending the continental tournament. For U23 Vietnam, one of the biggest surprises is the omission of Le Phat, a player from Ninh Binh FC.

Le Phat was the youngest member of the Vietnam U23 squad. Notably, he was also the only player to score in their recent 1-2 friendly defeat against U23 Syria in Qatar. However, despite his potential, his lack of international experience may have cost him a place in the final selection.

If there are no last-minute changes (as teams retain the right to modify their squads before their opening match), this list is expected to be Vietnam’s official squad for the tournament.

This decision also indicates that head coach Kim Sang Sik is holding out hope for striker Thanh Nhan’s return from injury, choosing not to remove the PVF-CAND forward from the lineup. However, it remains uncertain whether Thanh Nhan will be fit to play in Vietnam’s opening match against U23 Jordan on January 6.

At the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026, Vietnam will face U23 Jordan on January 6, U23 Kyrgyzstan on January 9, and tournament hosts U23 Saudi Arabia on January 12.

Dai Nam