Coach Kim Sang Sik calls Vietnamese-American player Thanh Trung to join U23 Vietnam

Coach Kim Sang Sik summoned Vietnamese-American player Tran Thanh Trung to the Vietnam U23 team to prepare for the 2026 U23 Asian qualifiers.

On the afternoon of August 25, Coach Kim Sang Sik announced the list of U23 Vietnam players preparing for the 2026 U23 Asian qualifiers held at home. Among the 24 names, it is noteworthy that overseas Vietnamese player Tran Thanh Trung was given the opportunity to wear the U23 Vietnam shirt for the first time.

Tran Thanh Trung (Chung Nguyen Do), born in 2005 in Bulgaria to a Vietnamese family, currently holds dual Vietnamese and Bulgarian citizenship. He grew up at CSKA Sofia, played professionally since 2013 and played for Slavia Sofia's first team in the Bulgarian National Championship before returning to join Ninh Binh Club in the V-League.

Tran Thanh Trung is highly anticipated. Photo: Xuan Thuy

The 1m75 tall player, playing in the central midfielder position, played 31 matches, scored 2 goals and had 1 assist in the 2024/25 season. With a playing style that focuses on control and defense, Thanh Trung is also in the top 5 young players with the most interceptions in European national championships (except the top 5 leagues).

Before being promoted to U23 Vietnam, Thanh Trung played from the bench in both of Ninh Binh's first matches in the 2025/26 V-League. The 20-year-old player is considered to have an intelligent playing style, but he is still limited in physical strength.

U23 Vietnam is confident of winning a ticket to the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.

In the list of U23 Vietnam, besides Thanh Trung, coach Kim Sang Sik still believes in old faces such as goalkeeper Trung Kien, Van Truong, Xuan Bac, Cong Phuong, Van Khang, Viktor Le, Pham Ly Duc, Thai Son, Dinh Bac...

According to the plan, U23 Vietnam will gather and practice in Viet Tri ( Phu Tho ) from August 30. In Group C of the 2026 U23 Asian qualifiers, coach Kim Sang Sik and his team will meet U23 Bangladesh (September 3), U23 Singapore (September 6) and U23 Yemen (September 9).

List of U23 Vietnam

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/hlv-kim-sang-sik-goi-cau-thu-viet-kieu-thanh-trung-len-u23-viet-nam-2435949.html