Vietnam team: Three naturalized players waiting to play Malaysia

The news that midfielder Hendrio (Do Hoang Hen) officially received Vietnamese citizenship on October 17th made Vietnamese football fans excited. He is a versatile player, loved by coach Kim Sang Sik. When he was playing for the Nam Dinh Steel Blue, the Brazilian star was the one behind Xuan Son's success. Experts assess that Hoang Hen is one of the best attacking midfielders currently in the V-League.

Despite having Vietnamese nationality, Do Hoang Hen cannot join the Vietnamese national team in the training camp in November, in the away match against Laos in the final qualifying round of the Asian Cup. It will not be until December that he has lived in Vietnam for 5 years, which is enough to qualify for the national team according to regulations.

Do Hoang Hen is preparing to debut for Hanoi FC as a domestic player. Photo: Hanoi FC

Thus, the midfielder born in 1994 can debut for the Vietnam national team in the match against Malaysia in March 2026, once he is called up by coach Kim Sang Sik . In the next 5 months, he will have the opportunity to prove his worth when playing in the V-League in the Hanoi FC shirt.

In defense, Gustavo Santos is also a naturalized foreign player in the plan of coach Kim Sang Sik. The Korean strategist personally proposed to VFF about naturalizing this central defender.

Gustavo Santos has played in Vietnam for 6 years for the clubs The Cong Viettel, Sai Gon, SLNA, Than Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, and currentlySHB Da Nang. With a height of 1m95 and a strong playing style, he is expected to be a "rock" in front of the goal.

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Center back Gustavo Santos. Photo: Da Nang FC

Gustavo’s naturalization application is currently being submitted to the authorities for review. If successful, he could become a citizen in early 2026, and make his debut for the Vietnamese national team in the match against Malaysia in March next year.

In addition to Do Hoang Hen and Gustavo Santos, the Vietnamese team also welcomed the return of Nguyen Xuan Son. Recently, the 28-year-old striker made a comeback in the friendly match between Nam Dinh Steel and PVF-CAND Youth. If there are no major disruptions, Xuan Son will almost certainly play in the rematch between Vietnam and Malaysia. With the presence of 3 naturalized foreign players, the Vietnamese team has a quality backbone, bringing hope for the future.

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Xuan Son has just returned to play after 10 months of injury. Photo: Nam Dinh FC

Regarding the use of naturalized foreign players, VFF and coach Kim Sang Sik both affirmed that the Vietnamese team is selective, with appropriate numbers. With the 3 players mentioned above, if they meet the professional requirements and show a desire to contribute, they are all worthy of consideration for opportunities.