USL Dunkerque, a Ligue 2 club, has officially signed Thomas Mai Veeren, a young Vietnamese-American midfielder. This 18-year-old player joined the team after a promising career in youth national teams and experience in the V-League. Thomas Mai Veeren, also known as Mai Cong Thanh, was selected by the Vietnamese Football Federation for the under-17 national team in 2025. Despite exceptional physical qualities, he was unable to integrate into the final selection for Qatar due to strong competition. USL Dunkerque offers a career opportunity to the young midfielder, who will be able to gain experience in one of the most competitive championships in the world. Ligue 2 is renowned for being a springboard for many stars before their accession to Ligue 1 or other major national championships. Thomas Mai Veeren stated that his family was his greatest support, helping him overcome difficult periods where his career had not yet experienced a real breakthrough. The young player said: « I want to express my gratitude to my parents, who have always been by my side, in good times and bad ». This mark of gratitude testifies to the psychological maturity of the player of Vietnamese origin, an essential asset for succeeding in European professional football. The arrival of Thomas Mai Veeren at USL Dunkerque is excellent news for Vietnamese fans, who hope for progress from Mai Cong Thanh. If he shines in Ligue 2, the doors of the Vietnamese national team, at all levels, will undoubtedly remain wide open for this young talent. USL Dunkerque had a relatively stable 2025/26 season, finishing 10th in Ligue 2 with 43 points after 34 matches. The statistics show that Dunkerque practices a pragmatic game, an ideal environment for a young midfielder to learn to adapt to the intensity of French competition.