The trend of naturalizing players to strengthen Vietnam's national football team is gaining attention again. This concept, aimed at helping the team compete for a World Cup spot and elevate its status in Asia, has been debated for years.

The topic has resurfaced recently as the Vietnamese national team struggles under coach Philippe Troussier. The issue gained urgency following Vietnam's setbacks against teams like Indonesia in the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers, especially as other Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, have successfully integrated naturalized or heritage players.

The idea of naturalizing players has been a recurring topic in Southeast Asia, where countries like the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and particularly Indonesia have enhanced their teams with foreign-born players. However, while naturalization can provide a temporary boost, it does not guarantee sustained success.

For instance, Singapore and the Philippines once benefited from naturalized players, achieving success in some AFF Cup tournaments. However, these successes were short-lived, and both nations eventually struggled to maintain their competitive edge.

The decline of Singapore and the Philippines can be attributed to the lack of a strong football foundation, including a robust domestic league, youth development programs, and grassroots initiatives. Their reliance on naturalized players was not supported by a sustainable football ecosystem.

In light of these examples, naturalizing players for Vietnam should be seen as a temporary measure rather than a long-term solution. The national team can benefit from naturalized players, but the focus must also be on developing a professional football infrastructure.

Vietnam must build a comprehensive youth development system and a competitive professional league to ensure lasting success. While the country has seen growth in football academies and grassroots initiatives, there remains a question of whether enough young players are genuinely pursuing professional careers.

The Vietnamese national team may need naturalized players to achieve short-term goals, but the long-term strategy should involve strengthening the domestic football framework. As the late Austrian coach Alfred Riedl once pointed out, Vietnam's football development has often been like "building a house from the top down."

Duy Nguyen