Southeast Asian fans are astonished by the V.League.

The fact that the V.League has dropped to 8th place in the East Asian region and lost its spot in the AFC Champions League Elite has sparked a major debate among football fans in Southeast Asia.

Southeast Asian fans stunned as V.League relegated.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recently announced its club rankings. The fact that the V.League is only ranked 8th in East Asia, below Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, has sparked considerable debate. Consequently, Vietnam will not qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite 2027/2028 season, but will instead receive a direct entry into the AFC Champions League Two along with a play-off spot.

Conversely, the Thai League continues to assert its position as the region's number one, ranking third in East Asia, possessing three direct spots in the most prestigious tournament and one second-tier spot. Malaysia has risen strongly with two representatives, evenly distributed across two leagues, largely thanks to the strength of Johor Darul Tazim. Surprisingly, Singapore has also surpassed Vietnam by maintaining a strong performance in continental competitions, despite its less attractive domestic league.

The V.League is not considered a top-tier league in the region.

Following this result, public opinion in the region offered various comments . An Indonesian viewer shared: " I think the V.League is stronger than Singapore, but in the AFC, the result is what matters most." A Malaysian fan said: " Johor Darul Tazim has helped Malaysia accumulate a lot of points. Vietnam needs a club that is strong and stable like that."

Commenting on the current situation, a Thai user remarked: " Vietnamese football has great potential, but clubs often change their squads too frequently, making it difficult to maintain success in Asia." Meanwhile, a Filipino viewer commented: " The V.League is still very attractive, but in continental competitions, stability is the deciding factor."

Overall, the biggest weakness of Vietnamese teams is their frequent early elimination due to a lack of squad depth and the absence of a resilient team like Buriram United or Johor Darul Tazim. If their international performance doesn't improve soon, the risk of the V.League continuing to decline in the standings is entirely possible.

Source: Football/Culture and Arts Times

Source: https://danviet.vn/cdv-dong-nam-a-ngo-ngang-ve-vleague-d1428383.html