Vietnamese Football Prepares for SEA Games 2026 Campaign: Coach Tran Cong So Sets Semi-final Target

Hanoi, June 2026 — At a press conference held at the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, head coach Tran Cong So announced a squad of 22 players called up for preparation for the 20th SEA Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. According to the announced plan, the national football team will convene at the National Sports Training Center from June 15, with two friendly matches against Thailand scheduled for early September before departing for Jakarta. "Our target is to reach the semi-finals. This is an achievable goal if the players maintain consistent form," Coach Tran Cong So stated. "However, we face fitness challenges as the V-League concluded late." The squad features young talents from strong clubs like The Cong, Quân Đội, and Đà Nẵng. Notably, striker Nguyễn Hồng Sơn from The Cong club is considered a key attacking asset. Regarding sponsorship, the General Department representative stated that negotiations with several domestic enterprises are ongoing to support preparation funding. Each player is expected to receive a monthly allowance of 200,000 đồng during the training period, the highest level to date. At SEA Games 2026, the Vietnamese team exited at the group stage after losing all three matches. This record puts considerable pressure on this year's squad amid Vietnam's sports reform period. The team is scheduled to fly directly from Tân Sơn Nhất to Jakarta on September 25, five days before the SEA Games opening ceremony.