Vietnam U23's number one goalkeeper receives unprecedented honor in his career

Goalkeeper Cao Van Binh is entrusted with the captain's armband for Vietnam U23, becoming the leader of the young player generation at the CFA Team China 2026 tournament.

Goalkeeper Cao Van Binh has been trusted by the coaching staff to receive the captain's armband for Vietnam U23 at the CFA Team China 2026 friendly tournament held in Xi'an (China). This is a deserved reward for the efforts and consistent performance of the 2005-born goalkeeper recently. Accompanying him in the role of spiritual leaders are the vice-captains Bao Long, Ba Dat, and Nguyen Hoang.

The decision to award the captain's armband to Cao Van Binh shows great trust from the coaching staff, especially in the context of Vietnam U23 bringing a heavily rejuvenated squad to the tournament. Not only demonstrating maturity in his playing style, Van Binh also shows leadership qualities and the ability to command the defensive line – crucial attributes for a modern goalkeeper.

At the club level, Cao Van Binh is maintaining impressive form while playing for SLNA, consistently being awarded the starting goalkeeper position. He contributes significantly to helping the Nghe team achieve a streak of 3 consecutive wins in V-League, thereby strongly scoring points in the eyes of the national team coaching staff. This consistency is precisely the foundation that helps Van Binh be selected for the leadership role at Vietnam U23.

Not only outstanding currently, Van Binh also made waves at the CFA Team China tournament back in March 2025 by winning the "Best Goalkeeper" award. His miraculous saves, particularly an impressive performance in the penalty shootout, helped him establish his name. Notably, this goalkeeper played a major role in the victory over South Korea in the U23 Asian Cup 2026 bronze medal match, creating a memorable mark.

Entering this year's tournament, Vietnam U23 will kick off their campaign against North Korea U23 this afternoon, March 25. The entire team has completed preparations and is ready to face the first challenge. With the captain's armband in hand, Cao Van Binh is expected to be a solid pillar both professionally and mentally for his young teammates.

The CFA Team China 2026 tournament is seen as an important preparatory step towards ASIAD 2026, where Vietnam U23 plans to utilize a U21 squad. This is not a tournament focused heavily on results, but rather on reviewing, evaluating the squad, and seeking new talents. In that journey, Cao Van Binh's role extends beyond just guarding the goal; he is also the leader guiding a promising next generation.