Becamex Ho Chi Minh City (left) during their home defeat against SLNA in round 24 - Photo: VPF
Just one slip-up and Thanh Hoa (25 points), Hoang Anh Gia Lai (23 points), Becamex Ho Chi Minh City (21 points),SHB Da Nang (20 points), or PVF-CAND (18 points) could all receive 1.5 relegation spots.
An advantage for Thanh Hoa
Thanh Hoa FC holds the biggest advantage. They don't have to worry about direct relegation as they are 7 points ahead of bottom-placed PVF-CAND. However, if they are not careful, Thanh Hoa could fall to second-to-last place in the standings and have to play in the relegation play-offs. Their last two matches are quite tough: a home game against Ninh Binh, who are competing for third place, and an away game against their main rival, SHB Da Nang .
But the remaining four teams are extremely worried. Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) could face direct relegation if they lose both of their remaining matches, especially if PVF-CAND wins all their games. This is entirely possible considering HAGL's opponents. Hanoi FC has a stronger squad and is desperate for a win in Pleiku in round 25 to compete for third place. Adding to the tension, HAGL has to play away against Becamex Ho Chi Minh City, their direct relegation rival, in their final match.
On the day Hanoi Police FC officially received the championship trophy at Hang Day Stadium in round 25, Becamex Ho Chi Minh City FC was predicted to have very little chance of getting any points. At that point, Becamex Ho Chi Minh City FC's only option was to give their all to defeat HAGL in the final round to find a way out. The crucial question was whether Coach Hua Hien Vinh's team could recover in time, given their current streak of 8 matches with only 3 points, including 3 consecutive losses.
SHB Da Nang unexpectedly accelerated but the danger is still not over - Photo: SHBDN
SHB Da Nang unexpectedly accelerated.
In the relegation battle, no team has surged ahead as aggressively as SHB Da Nang in the crucial stage of the season. The team from the Han River has earned 7 points in their last 3 matches, thus escaping the bottom of the table and now having a real chance of securing direct relegation survival.
With Hong Linh Ha Tinh having nothing left to play for, this will be an opportunity for SHB Da Nang to win. And if Thanh Hoa secures their survival before the final round, it will also be easier for coach Le Duc Tuan's team to take all three points.
PVF-CAND is at the biggest disadvantage, unable to control their own destiny. But to keep their hopes alive, coach Tran Tien Dai and his team must first save themselves in the last two matches. PVF-CAND has the advantage that both Hai Phong and SLNA no longer have any goals to strive for, so victory shouldn't be difficult to achieve.
It's safe to say that after three seasons, the V-League is once again witnessing such a thrilling and unpredictable relegation battle as this year. In the 2023 V-League season, Becamex Binh Duong (before its current name) and Ho Chi Minh City FC deliberately drew 0-0 at Thong Nhat Stadium in the final round, effectively relegating SHB Da Nang despite their 3-1 victory over Khanh Hoa in the simultaneous match. And now, the 2025-2026 V-League season will likely have to wait until the final round to determine the owners of the 1.5 relegation spots.
Tien Linh (left) of Ho Chi Minh City Police Club - Photo: TTO
Who will emerge victorious in the relegation playoff?
The final two matches of the season hold the fate of the bottom five teams. A single misstep could render all previous efforts meaningless. This includes the possibility of Becamex Ho Chi Minh City and HAGL battling it out for survival in a crucial "relegation battle" at Binh Duong Stadium. Many have suggested this scenario, as these two teams have had the worst form among the bottom three teams in their last three matches.
During this difficult period, Hoang Anh Gia Lai's technical director, Vu Tien Thanh, has returned to work alongside coach Le Quang Trai, strengthening the team after his "secondment" to assist Ninh Binh FC ended. However, coach Hua Hien Vinh is now left to fend for himself with Becamex Ho Chi Minh City FC, which is in crisis and teetering on the brink of relegation.
"It's really difficult. I was working with the youth team when I was promoted to support and take over the first team. Everyone says this task is too difficult, but I think if it were easy, someone else would have done it already. Once the leadership has entrusted me with this task, I will do my best to complete it. I believe the team will successfully avoid relegation," Coach Hua Hien Vinh shared after the loss to SLNA.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dua-tru-hang-v-league-chi-manh-treo-chuong-20260526092116559.htm
![[Photo] General Secretary and President To Lam presides over the meeting to approve the draft report on the results of the second inspection by the Politburo of the Standing Committee of the Hanoi City Party Committee.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/05/26/1779789811432_a2-bnd-4430-9620-jpg.webp)
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