The contrasting positions of HAGL and Hanoi FC in the Vietnam National Team

HAGL had no players present when coach Kim Sang Sik announced the list of the Vietnam national team preparing for the 2026 World Cup qualifying round. This is the first time in nearly a decade that HAGL players have been absent from the Vietnam national team.

The last official tournament in which the Vietnamese national team did not have a HAGL player on the roster was the 2014 AFF Cup under coach Toshiya Miura. In 2015, the Japanese coach continued his habit of “ignoring” the players from the mountain town in the first matches of the 2018 World Cup.

After coach Toshiya Miura left, HAGL has continuously contributed pillars to the Vietnam national team under coaches Nguyen Huu Thang, Park Hang Seo and Philippe Troussier. This journey lasted nearly a decade before coach Kim Sang Sik did not call up any names from HAGL to the Vietnam national team.

In the past, HAGL has said goodbye to a series of iconic players such as Nguyen Cong Phuong, Nguyen Van Toan, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Luong Xuan Truong, Nguyen Phong Hong Duy, Vu Van Thanh. The team from the mountain town is also struggling to avoid relegation in the V-League 2023/2024 and is only 1 point ahead of the second-to-last position of Ha Tinh.

Tuan Anh, who is playing for Nam Dinh on loan from HAGL, was still called up to the Vietnam national team. (Photo: Hoai Thuong)

The list of Vietnam National Team includes a large number of players from Hanoi FC, The Cong Viettel and CAHN Club. (Photo: VFF)

HAGL only has a “bridge” mark in the Vietnam national team. Midfielder Nguyen Tuan Anh, who is playing for Nam Dinh on loan from HAGL, is still called up by coach Kim Sang Sik. In addition, the Vietnam national team also has two former players of the mountain town team, Nguyen Van Toan and Vu Van Thanh.

In contrast to HAGL's declining position, the three capital teams including Hanoi FC, CAHN Club and The Cong Viettel contributed 18/27 players to the Vietnam National Team in this training session.

Of which, Hanoi FC is the team with the most players summoned by coach Kim Sang Sik, including 7 names: Do Hung Dung, Do Duy Manh, Nguyen Van Tung, Quan Van Chuan, Pham Xuan Manh, Pham Tuan Hai, Nguyen Van Truong.

The Cong Viettel contributed 6 players including Bui Tien Dung, Nguyen Duc Chien, Nguyen Hoang Duc, Phan Tuan Tai, Nguyen Thanh Binh, Khuat Van Khang. CAHN Club had 5 names called Nguyen Quang Hai, Vu Van Thanh, Ho Tan Tai, Bui Hoang Viet Anh and Nguyen Filip.

According to the plan, the Vietnam national team will start training on June 1. Coach Kim Sang Sik and his team have 5 days to prepare for the home match against the Philippines, which will take place at 7:00 p.m. on June 6, before moving to Iraq to play the final match in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia 5 days later.

Source: https://vov.vn/the-thao/vi-the-trai-nguoc-cua-hagl-va-ha-noi-fc-o-dt-viet-nam-post1097951.vov