First Division 2025/26 kicks off: The championship race heats up

Right before the kick-off date, the teams in the First Division received bad news from VFF and VPF. Compared to the original plan, instead of 2 direct promotion slots, the First Division only has 1.5 slots.

According to experts, this year's First Division promises to be attractive when the teams have invested heavily. The strong candidate for the championship is Dong Nai (renamed from Binh Phuoc ). In addition to retaining Huynh Tan Sinh, Sam Ngoc Duc, Luu Tu Nhan, Ho Sy Giap, Le Thanh Binh, Nguyen Cong Phuong , this team continues to bring in coach Nguyen Viet Thang and quality new players such as Tran Minh Vuong, Luong Xuan Truong, Duong Van Khoa, Tran Quang Thinh, Ho Thanh Minh...

Dong Nai 1.jpg — Dong Nai determined to play in V-League. Photo: Dong Nai FC

The only foreign player of the Southeast Brazilian team, Alex Sandro (Brazil), is also highly rated. This striker grew up at the Cruzeiro academy and is valued at around 400,000 euros by Transfermarkt.

In the opening match, Dong Nai hosted Ho Chi Minh City. This is a match in which coach Nguyen Viet Thang's team can completely win all 3 points. Before that, Dong Nai defeated V-League representative Becamex Ho Chi Minh City 3-1 in the National Cup qualifying round. This victory helped Minh Vuong and his teammates become much more confident.

Another strong candidate in the championship race is Bac Ninh - the team advised by coach Park Hang Seo. Preparing for this year's season, the Kinh Bac team bought a series of names such as Nguyen Hai Huy, Huynh Tuan Linh, Ha Duc Chinh, Truong Van Thiet, Ngan Van Dai, Nguyen Thanh Long, Mai Xuan Quyet, Ho Ngoc Thang... In addition, Bac Ninh has a Vietnamese-Swedish player Eddie Tran and foreign player Kaina Nunes da Silva Amarante. In the opening match of the First Division, Bac Ninh will be a guest at Thanh Nien TP.HCM, aiming to win 3 points.

In addition to the strong teams above, the First Division is more worth watching with the participation of Quang Ninh teams, two former V-League teams Khanh Hoa and Quy Nhon, or the interesting unknown Xuan Thien Phu Tho.