Why have 4 Vietnamese players not yet played a single minute at the 2026 ASEAN Cup?

After the first matches of the Vietnamese national team at the 2026 ASEAN Cup, a notable detail is that four players have still not been given playing time by coach Kim Sang Sik: goalkeepers Đặng Văn Lâm and Trần Trung Kiên, center-back Đinh Quang Kiệt, and striker Nguyễn Ngọc Mỹ.

These are all players with solid professional abilities, and some have even been key figures for the national team. However, the fact that they haven't been used is not unusual when viewed from the tactical and personnel management perspective of the South Korean coach.

Đặng Văn Lâm is one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the Vietnamese team, having played a major role in the 2018 AFF Cup victory. But as the 2026 ASEAN Cup kicked off, Văn Lâm was not in his best physical condition or form.

Meanwhile, Patrik Lê Giang not only has the physique and experience but also performs very steadily as the first-choice goalkeeper for Vietnam, so there is no reason for coach Kim Sang Sik to replace this overseas Vietnamese goalkeeper when the team needs maximum stability match after match.

HAGL's young goalkeeper Trần Trung Kiên is considered one of the most promising shot-stoppers in Vietnamese football today. However, competing for a spot with experienced seniors like Đặng Văn Lâm or Patrik Lê Giang is a huge challenge.

The ASEAN Cup is not an ideal arena to experiment with the goalkeeper position, because a single mistake can cost the team dearly. Besides Văn Lâm, another goalkeeper, Trần Trung Kiên, has also not played a single minute at the 2026 ASEAN Cup.

The fact that Trung Kiên has not been on the pitch does not mean he is not part of coach Kim Sang Sik's long-term plans. But since Patrik Lê Giang is performing convincingly, Trung Kiên will naturally have to wait for his opportunity.

In defense, Đinh Quang Kiệt is a young center-back (19 years old) with an ideal physique (1.95m tall) and great development potential. However, like the goalkeeper position, the central defensive area is not suitable for experimentation in a tournament where every match is highly decisive, such as the ASEAN Cup.

The center-back position demands coordination, experience, and the ability to handle pressure. As the Vietnamese team aims to defend its title, it is highly unlikely that coach Kim Sang Sik would risk changing a stable defensive framework consisting of three familiar links: Bùi Hoàng Việt Nam, Thành Chung, and Xuân Mạnh. Quang Kiệt may be an option for the future, but at the moment, he still needs more time to accumulate international experience before being given a chance in important matches.

The case of Nguyễn Ngọc Mỹ is also easy to explain. Born in 2004, he possesses speed, technique, and good creativity. But whether playing on the wing or as a center forward, he has to compete with a host of more experienced attacking stars.

Given that the Vietnamese attack has maintained a stable scoring rate, coach Kim Sang Sik has no reason to change a winning formula. At 22, Ngọc Mỹ can be a player for long-term plans, for future campaigns of the Vietnamese team.

At the 2026 ASEAN Cup, the Vietnamese team does not have a dense match schedule, while the "standard" personnel framework has been determined early by coach Kim Sang Sik, and the players have all performed well.

For this tournament, the South Korean coach prioritizes experience and stability in the operation of the entire system. Any adjustments or personnel changes, if any, will only be made when truly necessary.

Although the Vietnamese team has still shown some issues in defense, overall, we have achieved positive results and have reached the semifinals of the 2026 ASEAN Cup.

"The Golden Star Warriors" are only four matches away from the championship. These are all highly decisive encounters, and coach Kim has even more reason to maintain a stable personnel framework. Therefore, it is very possible that all of Văn Lâm, Trung Kiên, Đinh Quang Kiệt, and Ngọc Mỹ will end their 2026 ASEAN Cup journey without playing a single minute.