Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) President Tran Quoc Tuan says the organization will not aggressively naturalize foreign players, choosing instead to invest in youth development to maintain sustainable growth and national identity in Vietnamese football.

No rush to naturalize players

“After Vietnam’s 0-4 loss to Malaysia, many of us went gray with worry, thinking deeply about our path forward,” said Tran Quoc Tuan. “We studied other football systems that rely on naturalized players and weighed the consequences. While it may strengthen a national team in the short term, it can weaken the domestic system and reduce motivation for local players and youth academies. Sustainable club development must remain the foundation.”

In the away leg of the final qualifying round for the 2027 Asian Cup, Vietnam suffered a 0-4 defeat to Malaysia, a team that fielded nine naturalized players and completely outclassed the “Golden Stars.”

“Each country has different values and national pride. We’re very mindful of this. Vietnamese football is committed to a development model based on internal strength. If we add naturalized players, it must be a calculated and appropriate decision - not a quick fix to chase results,” Tuan said.

He noted that some clubs are making impressive strides, such as a newly promoted V-League team with bold, long-term planning. “This thinking stems from a genuine love for the sport and a desire to strengthen our national team in the future.”

Continued investment in youth football

“Football requires patience. I’ve been in the game for 25 years. After our loss to Malaysia, I couldn’t sleep for two nights. It brought me back to 2006, as we prepared for the 2007 Asian Cup. Vietnam was a host nation but had lost half of its squad. Yet, we reached the quarterfinals. A year later, we won the AFF Cup for the first time in 2008. That success came from intense competition.”

Tuan emphasized that strategic and careful planning is needed to stay on course and maintain national football identity. “We are continuing to invest in youth development. Our young teams have frequently trained abroad, such as in Japan and Germany. The VFF organizes up to 30 trips annually for youth teams to Japan and also sends teams to strong competitions in China.”

“On August 3, we’ll sign a cooperation agreement with the Chinese Football Association. China has recognized Vietnam’s recent breakthrough achievements. The collaboration between both federations, and the attention from both governments, is incredibly valuable.”

“This year, our U22, futsal, and U16 teams have all trained and competed in China. These camps are critical. Only by playing against strong opponents can our players make real progress. Domestic play alone limits their development.”

Tuan added that the VFF is planning for the U15 and U20 teams to train in Europe in preparation for the SEA Games in two years. “This is a very feasible plan. We hope everyone will support the VFF, so Vietnamese football can grow sustainably and with strong identity.”

Dai Nam