Vietnam won't follow mass naturalization policy of Malaysia, Indonesia: football president

Vietnam's 0-4 loss to Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers on June 10 has reignited debate over whether the country should adopt a more aggressive naturalization policy, similar to that of regional rivals Malaysia and Indonesia.

Malaysia's dominant win came on the back of nine naturalized players, marking their first victory over Vietnam in 11 years. Indonesia, using a similar policy, previously knocked Vietnam out of both the 2023 Asian Cup and the second round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Speaking to the media, Tuan admitted the recent loss has deeply concerned him.

But VFF has studied countries that applied mass naturalization of players and concluded that the policy is not the answer, he said. Vietnam simply don't have the same pool of mixed-blood players as Malaysia or Indonesia, he added.

"If we're not careful, we'll build a stronger national team at a certain time while weakening the domestic football system," Tuan said. "Our path is to grow through local resources. Any additions must be appropriate and carefully considered."

VFF president Tran Quoc Tuan at the draw for the 2025 ASEAN Women's Cup in Hanoi on June 9, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Hai Tu

Tuan added that balancing naturalized and homegrown players is essential to maintain both performance and motivation.

"It's important not just for the national team, but for clubs and local communities to stay committed to developing young talent," he said. "We also must bring identity and national pride into the conversation."

Vietnam national team now includes only have two players of Vietnamese descent: Czech-Vietnamese goalkeeper Nguyen Filip and French-Vietnamese left-back Cao Quang Vinh Pendant.

Russian-Vietnamese goalkeeper Dang Van Lam was not called up this time, and Brazilian-born forward Nguyen Xuan Son remains sidelined with injury. Several overseas Vietnamese players have been tested at youth levels but have yet to break into the national team.

Tuan affirms that youth development remains the core strategy of the nation's football scene.

"The future of Vietnamese football lies in our ability to develop young talent, and that requires patience."

Malaysia (in yellow) during the clash with Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers on June 10, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Hai Tu

Reflecting on his 25 years in Vietnamese football, Tuan recalled the challenges during the 2006–2007 period, when the team lost half the squad due to issues, including a match-fixing scandal. Yet Vietnam still reached the quarterfinals of the 2007 Asian Cup, the only Southeast Asian team to do so, and went on to win their first AFF Cup (now ASEAN Cup) in 2008.

"We need to remember that success is built through consistent competition," he added. "Back then, we overcame a group that included the UAE, Qatar and Japan. We must be cautious about changes, ensuring they support development while preserving our identity."

VFF has long pursued international cooperation to strengthen youth training. It currently has partnerships with the Japan Football Association (JFA), Bundesliga and La Liga. On Aug. 3, VFF is expected to sign a new agreement with the Chinese Football Association (CFA).

Youth and women's teams will continue to train and compete in Japan, Germany, Spain and China. The U15 and U16 squads are also expected to train annually in Europe in preparation for the U17 Asian Cup and World Cup qualifiers.

Vietnamese football will have a busy schedule this year. In addition to the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, the U22 men's team will compete in the U23 Asian Cup qualifiers and SEA Games. The U17 team are preparing for their Asian Cup qualifiers, while the women's national team will participate in qualifiers for the 2026 Asian Cup and ASEAN Cup.