The number of overseas Vietnamese players registered in V.League has risen from 20 to 25 for the 2026-27 season, including nine newcomers. Clubs are looking across a wider range of countries for players with Vietnamese roots.

The recruitment is not confined to financially stronger teams such as Công an Hà Nội, Công an TP HCM and Ninh Bình. Sông Lam Nghệ An and Bắc Ninh are also identified among clubs seeking additional options.

Early contributions at club level

Nam Định's Tyler Crawford made an impression with forward runs and an assist in the opening round. Lenn Minh-Trần supplied Nguyễn Tiến Linh's headed goal in Công an TP HCM's 3-1 win over Hà Nội.

Bryan Ly scored in SHB Đà Nẵng's 3-0 victory over Nam Định in round two. Karim Trần Phi Long contributed a through ball in Sông Lam Nghệ An's 4-1 win against Hà Nội, while Aymeric Faurand Tournaire has also drawn a positive assessment for his wide attacking performances.

National-team possibilities remain conditional

The broader pool offers Vietnam more players to monitor, but Vietnamese ancestry does not itself establish citizenship or international eligibility. The report states that the players discussed as future prospects did not yet hold Vietnamese nationality.

Possible support for naturalisation is presented as conditional on ability, willingness to contribute and club assistance. It is not an announcement of selection. For now, the confirmed development is the increased presence and early club contribution of these players, rather than a completed expansion of Vietnam's eligible national-team squad.