The reigning champion is being cautious.

A DEEP SQUAD

In 2025, the Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism (VH-TT-DL) football team participated in the THACO Cup for the first time and achieved resounding success, winning both the domestic and international championships. However, coach Nguyen Cong Thanh and his team did not rest on their laurels but instead embarked on a major overhaul of their squad. Through well-organized internal tournaments, the coaching staff screened and selected outstanding players to replace some key players who had graduated. The biggest highlight in this year's preparation process is the narrowing of the gap between the starting lineup and the reserve players.

Đương kim vô địch thận trọng- Ảnh 1. — The defending champions, Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism, aim to secure a spot in the 2026 finals.

Coach Nguyen Cong Thanh analyzed: "Last year, there was a certain difference in experience and technique between the starting lineup and the reserves, but this year our team is much more balanced. The newly added players have quite good professional quality." Thanks to this, the Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism team has better squad depth, which will bring more diverse tactical approaches. To prepare for the challenging qualifying round, the team has actively gained experience through friendly matches with teams in the province and especially with the U.15 and U.17 youth teams of Thanh Hoa.

However, the team's preparation process has also faced a number of objective obstacles. In recent days, the harsh weather in Thanh Hoa has forced the postponement of some outdoor training sessions to protect the players' health. Despite this, Coach Cong Thanh affirmed that the entire team is maintaining a training schedule of three sessions per week and will accelerate training as soon as the weather improves to ensure peak performance before the start of the tournament. Being in the seeded group alongside strong teams like the Water Resources University and the Hanoi University of Physical Education and Sports, the Thanh Hoa team avoids direct rivals in the group stage, creating a favorable psychological momentum for further goals.

NO PRESSURE TO WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP

One of the most notable aspects of the Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism team at this year's tournament was their "pressure-free" spirit. Despite being the defending champions in both tournaments, the school's leadership and coaching staff all agreed that student football should first and foremost be a playground of joy and sportsmanship. Coach Nguyen Cong Thanh shared passionately: "The school's leadership always reminds the students to uphold the image of the school and the province. We don't play under pressure to win at all costs. In football, it's not always the strongest team that wins, but the team that knows how to enjoy the game and respect their opponent the most."

Although they aren't under immense pressure to win the championship, the Thanh Hoa team's desire for victory remains undiminished. Their immediate goal is to qualify for the finals in Nha Trang, as the entire team is eager to face strong teams from across the country.