While the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) acknowledges the benefits of naturalization, officials stress that long-term success lies in youth development.

Nguyen Xuan Son played a crucial role in Vietnam’s victory at the 2024 ASEAN Cup (AFF Cup), scoring seven goals despite only playing from the final group-stage match onward. He emerged as both the tournament’s top scorer and its best player.

His success has fueled ambitions among foreign players in the V-League to acquire Vietnamese nationality, hoping to one day don the national team’s red jersey with a golden star.

Head coach Kim Sang Sik has affirmed that the door is open for naturalized players, provided they meet technical standards and demonstrate a strong commitment to contributing to the team.

Currently, several foreign players in the V-League are either completing the naturalization process or awaiting eligibility to become Vietnamese citizens.

Among the most notable is Hendrio, Xuan Son’s teammate at Thep Xanh Nam Dinh. A product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, Hendrio is considered one of the best midfielders in the V-League.

However, the Brazilian-born player will not meet the residency requirement for naturalization until December 2025. In preparation, he has been actively learning Vietnamese.

"Obtaining Vietnamese citizenship would be a great honor for me. It would be an even greater privilege to represent the national team," Hendrio shared.

Another player pursuing Vietnamese nationality is Geovane Magno, a midfielder currently playing for Ha Tinh FC. Geovane has played for multiple V-League clubs, including Saigon FC, Hanoi FC, The Cong Viettel, and CAHN (Hanoi Police), before joining Ha Tinh.

Unlike Hendrio, Geovane has already met the five-year residency requirement, having played in the V-League since 2019. Ha Tinh FC is working to finalize his naturalization process.

Another case is Janclesio, who currently plays for Binh Duong FC and is now in his seventh V-League season.

Why is VFF cautious?

VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan acknowledged that the trend of naturalizing players is widespread in both Europe and Asia, significantly strengthening national teams. However, he emphasized that player selection must comply with FIFA regulations and align with Vietnam’s sporting and cultural objectives.

According to Tuan, the use of naturalized players will be carefully considered to preserve national identity. While foreign-born players can contribute to Vietnam’s football development, sustainable progress depends primarily on youth development.

VFF Vice President Tran Anh Tu echoed this sentiment, stating: “While we aim for strong results, we must not undermine our youth development system. If young players are not given opportunities to compete, the national team will face future gaps. VFF remains committed to nurturing domestic talent, improving club-level training, and ensuring a solid foundation for the next generations."

Despite Xuan Son’s remarkable success, VFF remains cautious about relying on naturalized players. Moving forward, VFF will work closely with head coach Kim Sang Sik on squad planning for both the senior national team and the U22 squad, prioritizing players of Vietnamese descent such as Jason Quang Vinh, Patrik Le Giang, Viktor Le, and Andrej An Khanh.

Dai Nam