If the worst-case scenario occurs, it would not only be relegation, but also the end of one of the biggest icons of Vietnamese football in the professional era.
You should blame yourself.
Not long ago, very few people thought Becamex Ho Chi Minh City had to worry about relegation. They had created a relatively safe distance from the bottom of the table, 6 and 7 points ahead ofSHB Da Nang and PVF-CAND respectively. With only a few rounds left in the season, that was a significant enough advantage to think about a comfortable finish.
Having previously been 6 and 7 points ahead of their two direct rivals, Becamex Binh Duong now cannot control their own destiny regarding relegation survival (Photo: QUANG LIEM)
But football doesn't operate on what it already is. In the last nine rounds, Becamex TP HCM hasn't won a single match. Their record of 3 draws and 6 losses has yielded only 3 points. In the same period, SHB Da Nang earned 9 points, while PVF-CAND had 10 points.
The gap that had been built up over many months was wiped out in just the final weeks of the season. Remarkably, Becamex TP HCM wasn't put in a difficult position by their rivals; they put themselves in that situation.
Before the final round, all three teams had 21 points. However, the team that had won the V-League multiple times was the only one that no longer held control over its own destiny.
This year's relegation battle could be decided by head-to-head results. If all three teams finish the season with the same number of points, their ranking will be determined based on the results of their matches against each other.
That track record is telling a very different story:
SHB Da Nang: 3 wins, 1 draw.
PVF-CAND: 1 win, 2 draws, 1 loss.
Becamex TP HCM: 1 draw, 3 losses.
More notably, Becamex Ho Chi Minh City failed to beat either SHB Da Nang or PVF-CAND throughout the entire season: They lost to SHB Da Nang 1-2 and 0-2; they drew with PVF-CAND 1-1 and lost 1-2. Thus, in the crucial matches that decided the survival race, Becamex Ho Chi Minh City was the weakest team.
If the three teams remain tied on points after round 26, Becamex TP HCM will take the bottom spot, and they will be the only team relegated to the First Division in 2026-2027.
This prediction is no longer a hypothesis. It's a reality forged from the intense rivalry that has unfolded throughout the season.
A symbol of collapse?
One of the familiar rules of relegation battles is that current form is often more important than reputation.
At this crucial point in the season, SHB Da Nang has the greatest advantage. They have escaped the bottom of the table, secured important points, and enter the final round with their fate in their own hands. Furthermore, they will be playing at home against Dong A Thanh Hoa , a team that has already secured their survival in the league and is undergoing significant personnel changes.
PVF-CAND has also maintained relative stability with 10 points in the last 9 rounds. Meanwhile, Becamex TP HCM is declining too rapidly.
Sadly, Becamex Ho Chi Minh City is more than just a club. It is a symbol of a period of strong development for Vietnamese football.
From the early years of professionalization, they were a role model in terms of investment, ambition, and competitiveness. The club boasted many national team players, won the V-League multiple times, and contributed to changing the way football was done in Vietnam.
If they are relegated after the final round of matches, it would be one of the biggest surprises in V-League history in recent years.
But football is always fair in its own way. History can inspire respect. Reputation can create expectations, but staying in the V-League is ultimately decided by points on the pitch. This season, Becamex Ho Chi Minh City has lost too many points at the most crucial moments, as well as experiencing changes in their coaching staff.
Of course, coach Hua Hien Vinh and his team – appointed to the hot seat in mid-May – could completely save themselves with a victory against Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) and hope for favorable results from other matches.
But even half of this dream isn't easy to realize. The visiting team, HAGL, is in high spirits after their 3-1 victory over Hanoi FC, securing their survival in the league with one match to spare. With a relaxed and enthusiastic mindset and a young squad, HAGL is even considered stronger than the home team at Go Dau Stadium at this time.
Therefore, if Becamex TP HCM has to say goodbye to the V-League, the biggest reason will not lie in the final 90 minutes of the season.
It all started with a nine-game winless streak, with missed opportunities and with the loss of the advantage they had once created.
"Three matches, including Becamex TP HCM - HAGL, SLNA - PVF CAND, and SHB Da Nang - Thanh Hoa, will all take place at 6 PM on June 7th."
The team ranked 14th will be relegated to the First Division next season, while the team ranked 13th will have to participate in a play-off match for a spot in the V-League 2026-2027 against the runner-up of the National First Division (Bac Ninh Club).
According to the V-League 2025-2026 ranking system, when teams are tied on points, the priority order for tie-breaking criteria will be: head-to-head record (points, goal difference, number of goals scored, away goals), followed by overall goal difference, and finally total number of goals scored.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/becamex-tp-hcm-co-thoat-hiem-phut-chot-19626060522573357.htm
