Despite successfully gaining Vietnamese citizenship, defender Jason Quang Vinh will have to wait until June to potentially don the Vietnam national team jersey.

According to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), Quang Vinh recently completed the naturalization process, but he will not be able to join the national squad for the March FIFA Days.

FIFA registration holds back national debut

Head coach Kim Sang Sik has not called up Jason Quang Vinh for the Asian Cup 2027 final qualifying match against Laos on March 25. The reason lies in the FIFA registration process, which must be completed before he is eligible to represent Vietnam.

This means the earliest Quang Vinh could make his national team debut would be during the second round of Group F in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, when Vietnam plays Malaysia away in June.

Journey to Vietnamese citizenship

Jason Quang Vinh, whose full name after naturalization is Cao Pendant Quang Vinh, was born in 1997 to a Vietnamese mother and a French father.

Before moving to Vietnam, he played for the French U16 and U18 teams and had a six-year stint at Sochaux in Ligue 2, France’s second division. He later joined New York Red Bulls in the United States, where he played for three years (2020-2022).

In early 2024, Quang Vinh signed with CAHN FC (Hanoi Police) in the V-League, where he has made 21 appearances across all competitions, including 15 out of 16 matches in the current season. Football experts consider him one of Vietnam’s best left-backs at present.

CAHN FC announced that Quang Vinh’s desire to represent Vietnam has remained strong since gaining citizenship. The player is eager to make an impact on the international stage and contribute to the national team’s success.

However, the delay caused by FIFA’s regulations means he will need to stay patient and continue performing well at the club level until his debut opportunity in June.

Dai Nam