On the afternoon of August 25, coach Kim Sang Sik announced the 24-man squad for U23 Vietnam’s campaign in the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers, which will take place on home soil. Among the selected players, Tran Thanh Trung, a Vietnamese-origin midfielder, stands out as he receives his first-ever call-up to the U23 Vietnam national team.

Born in 2005 in Bulgaria to a Vietnamese family, Tran Thanh Trung (also known as Chung Nguyen Do) holds dual citizenship in Vietnam and Bulgaria. He developed his football skills at CSKA Sofia’s youth academy and turned professional in 2013. He played for the senior team of Slavia Sofia in the Bulgarian top-tier league before returning to Vietnam to join Ninh Binh FC in the V-League.

Standing at 1.75 meters, the central midfielder made 31 appearances in the 2024-2025 season, scoring two goals and delivering one assist. Known for his control-oriented and defensive style, Thanh Trung was among the top five young players with the most interceptions across all European domestic leagues, excluding the top five.

Before being called up to the U23 squad, Thanh Trung came off the bench in both opening matches of the 2025-2026 V-League season for Ninh Binh. Though considered an intelligent player, the 20-year-old still faces limitations in terms of physical stamina.

Coach Kim Sang Sik has expressed strong confidence in his squad, aiming to secure a spot in the 2026 U23 Asian Cup finals. In addition to Thanh Trung, the team retains several familiar names such as goalkeepers Trung Kien, Van Truong, and key players Xuan Bac, Cong Phuong, Van Khang, Viktor Le, Pham Ly Duc, Thai Son, and Dinh Bac.

The squad is scheduled to assemble and begin training in Viet Tri (Phu Tho) starting August 30. In Group C of the qualifiers, Vietnam will play U23 Bangladesh on September 3, U23 Singapore on September 6, and U23 Yemen on September 9.

Dai Nam