Football

Players will begin practising on June 1 to prepare for the World Cup qualifiers. Photo of VFF

HÀ NỘI -- Coach Kim Sang-sik on May 27 called 27 players to practise for the 2026 World Cup's second qualification round in June.

The South Korean expert took part in a number of national leagues' matches since he landed in Việt Nam and signed a two-year contract with the local football federation.

Kim, who will make his debut as a national team head coach this time, picked four goalkeepers, nine defenders, eight midfielders and six strikers.

Among them are familiar faces to the national supporters such as goalies Nguyễn Filip, and Đặng Văn Lâm; veteran defenders Bùi Tiến Dũng, Đỗ Duy Mạnh and Hồ Tấn Tài; Golden Ball winner Nguyễn Hoàng Đức, star midfielder Nguyễn Quang Hải and talented striker Phạm Tuấn Hải.

He also gave places for midfielder Tô Văn Vũ who disappeared from the national team for two years; and young faces such as midfielders Khuất Văn Khang and Nguyễn Văn Trường and striker Nguyễn Văn Tùng and Bùi Vĩ Hào who proved their abilities in recent matches with the national team.

Some regretted missings are defenders Quế Ngọc Hải and Đoàn Văn Hậu, both are recovering from their injuries and young goal-hunter Nguyễn Đình Bắc who is under treatment after recent surgery.

Players will begin their training camps on June 1. They will have five days to prepare for the match against the Philippines at the Mỹ Đình Gymnasium and will travel to play Iraq for the last match on June 12. VNS