The ASEAN All-Stars squad being prepared for the high-profile friendly against Manchester United on May 28th has suffered its biggest blow yet, with Vietnamese winger Nguyen Quang Hai withdrawing from selection.
Quang Hai, who was expected to be one of the headline names in Kim Sang-sik’s All-Stars team, dropped out after his club, Cong An Ha Noi (CAHN), refused to grant him permission to join the squad. CAHN are set to face Thai champions Buriram United in the 2024/25 ASEAN Club Championship final, with the two-legged tie scheduled for May 14th and 21st—just a week before the Manchester United friendly. Given Quang Hai’s pivotal role in both club and country, CAHN opted to retain him ahead of these critical matches, as well as Vietnam’s crucial 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Malaysia on June 10th.
His absence adds to a growing list of withdrawals that have disrupted Sang-sik’s preparations. Prior to Quang Hai’s exit, Thailand’s Nicholas Mickelson, Indonesia’s Muhammad Ferrari, and Malaysia’s Dominic Tan and Ezequiel Aguero were all forced to pull out after being denied clearance by their respective clubs or national teams. Meanwhile, Cambodia’s Andres Nieto also withdrew due to suspension following a red card in a March friendly against Aruba.
To Sang-sik’s relief, the squad has received some reinforcements to make up for the losses. So far, the only new additions called up are Thailand duo Ben Davies and Worachit Kanitsribampen, Singapore’s Irfan Fandi, Cambodia’s Abdel Coulibaly, and Vietnam’s Nguyen Hai Long and Nguyen Van Vi. These players bring much-needed depth and versatility as the All-Stars gear up for the marquee clash.
With just weeks to go, the ASEAN All-Stars’ final roster is still taking shape. While player availability continues to pose challenges, Sang-sik will be counting on his newly bolstered squad to deliver a competitive showing and represent the region with pride against the visiting Premier League giants.