The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) on Sunday refuted claims from a YouTube video alleging that several key players requested to leave the Vietnamese national football team before their rematch against Indonesia on Tuesday in the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers.

The video could not be located on YouTube as of Monday morning.

It had been uploaded on a YouTube channel with nearly 500,000 followers earlier on Sunday and garnered over 55,000 views and 300 comments in just a few hours.

The video contained false claims like “A sense of frustration is brewing among the pillars of the Vietnamese national team. Reliable sources suggest that several key players are contemplating departure following the 0-1 defeat to Indonesia.”

Vietnam suffered the disheartening 0-1 setback at the hands of their Southeast Asian neighbors during their first-leg encounter in the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers in Jakarta last Thursday.

The list of key players with resignation intentions mentioned in the video notably includes star midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai.

The clip also alleged that on Sunday afternoon, striker Nguyen Van Toan gave an interview stating, “As long as coach Philippe Troussier remains in charge, Vietnamese football will regress due to his lack of understanding of the players.”

On Sunday evening, a representative from the VFF refuted these claims, labeling this YouTube report as fabricated.

The Vietnamese team conducted private training sessions in Hanoi on Saturday and Sunday, with no media access, meaning Van Toan did not grant interviews to the press, the representative pointed out. 

Regarding Quang Hai, the midfielder is currently preparing for his wedding scheduled for March 28.

In a statement to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, Quang Hai reaffirmed his commitment to the Vietnamese team, dismissing the rumors as baseless. 

“What kind of malicious information is this?” the midfielder commented.

Previously, on Saturday evening, striker Van Toan shared a brief clip assisting Quang Hai in drafting wedding invitations, captioned: 'Late-night side hustle.' 

The video showcased a normal and jovial atmosphere among the players.

“Ambitious training sessions are underway, with players fully dedicated on the field,” stated another member of the Vietnamese team.

“Such unfounded rumors and clickbait are detrimental and disrupt team morale. 

“We urge fans to exercise discernment, combat fake news, and stand united with the team.”

The second leg between Vietnam and Indonesia is scheduled for 7:00 pm on Tuesday at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi.

Last week’s defeat pushed Vietnam to the third position in Group F, with three points, trailing behind Indonesia with four points.

This setback narrowed their chances of advancing to the third round.

Iraq are leading the pack with nine points after three matches, while the Philippines are at the bottom with one point. 

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