Vietnam team plays friendly match at Thien Truong Stadium, Nam Dinh. (Source: VFF)

Many U23 players were called up for this training session. These include goalkeeper Nguyen Van Viet, Luong Duy Cuong, Phan Tuan Tai, Ho Van Cuong, Vo Minh Trong, Khuat Van Khang, Hoang Van Toan, Giap Tuan Duong, Le Van Do, Nguyen Duc Phu, Nguyen Thai Son, Nguyen Dinh Bac, Nguyen Van Tung, Bui Vi Hao, Nguyen Thanh Nhan.

These are the names that have just participated in the 2023 Southeast Asian U23 tournament, the 2024 Asian U23 qualifiers and most recently the 19th ASIAD.

Giving young players the opportunity to join the national team shows that coach Philippe Troussier is strongly "changing the blood" of the team's force.

However, the above players must make real efforts to compete for positions, because the Vietnamese team still has many pillars such as Dang Van Lam, Que Ngoc Hai, Ho Tan Tai, Doan Van Hau, Bui Hoang Viet Anh, Nguyen Thanh Binh, Do Duy Manh, Nguyen Hoang Duc, Nguyen Quang Hai, Do Hung Dung, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Pham Tuan Hai, Nguyen Tien Linh, Nguyen Van Toan...

Notable absences from the Vietnamese team this time include Cong Phuong, Van Quyet, Thanh Chung, Bui Tien Dung...

The Vietnam team will gather from October 2 at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center. However, in the first days of training, the Vietnam team has many gaps in its force because the players from the Hanoi Police Club, Thanh Hoa, Hanoi and Hai Phong are all busy with domestic and international tournaments.

Specifically, Hanoi Police Club and Thanh Hoa are preparing for the 2023 National Super Cup, taking place on October 6; Hanoi Club will visit Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds Club on October 4 in the 2023/24 AFC Champions League, while Hai Phong Club will also play at Singapore's Hougang United Club on October 5 in the 2023/24 AFC Cup.

To have enough players for training, coach Philippe Troussier "borrowed" 5 young U20 players including defender Dang Tuan Phong (Viettel), Nguyen Duc Anh (Hanoi), Tran Nam Hai (Song Lam Nghe An), Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong and Nguyen Quang Huy (Ba Ria Vung Tau).

After about a week of training in Hanoi, on October 8, the Vietnamese team will leave for China to play two international friendly matches during FIFA Days in October, meeting the Chinese team on October 10 and the Uzbekistan team on October 13.

After finishing their competition in China, the team will travel to Korea to play the final friendly match during the October FIFA Days, against the Korean team on October 17.

The three quality matches during the FIFA Days in October 2023 mentioned above are also the final preparation step of the Vietnamese team before officially joining the race in the second qualifying round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Asia, starting from next November.

List of Vietnamese national team players to gather for FIFA Days in October 2023. (Source: VFF)

Details of the Vietnam national team's friendly match schedule during FIFA Days in October 2023. (Source: VFF)