The new V-League champion is about to be revealed.

The V-League 2025-2026 championship race could be decided as early as round 22, with Hanoi Police FC already very close to the top.

CAHN Club could be crowned champions early.

The V-League 2025-2026 championship race is heating up as Hanoi Police FC (CAHN FC) is overwhelmingly stronger than the rest. After 21 rounds, coach Alexandre Polking's team has 54 points, 11 points ahead of second-placed The Cong Viettel . It's been seven years since the V-League witnessed such a one-sided championship race. Whether CAHN FC lifts the trophy is perhaps only a matter of time, and how many rounds early Coach Polking's team will secure the championship.

Match schedule for round 22

Photo:FPT PLAY

CAHN Club (left cover) has a chance to win the championship early, with 4 rounds remaining.

PHOTO: VPF

That moment could happen as early as round 22, when CAHN FC hosts Nam Dinh at home at 7:15 PM on September 10th, while The Cong Viettel plays away at Ha Tinh at 6 PM the same day. If The Cong Viettel doesn't win, and CAHN FC takes all 3 points, the gap between the two teams will be 13 or 14 points, with only 4 rounds remaining. This would mean Quang Hai and his teammates would be crowned champions early.

The above scenario is likely to happen, given that CAHN FC has won 6 out of their last 7 matches thanks to their excellent form. Their early exit from other competitions, while disappointing in terms of results, has inadvertently allowed Coach Polking and his players to focus 100% on the V-League. With a strong and balanced squad including domestic and foreign players, overseas Vietnamese, a fluid playing style honed over three years under Coach Polking, and a team with a strong sense of continuity, CAHN FC plays at a different level compared to the rest.

The capital's representatives didn't need to win many points in big matches (only 4 points after 3 matches against Hanoi and The Cong Viettel), yet they won almost every game against weaker opponents. While title contenders had to revamp their squads (The Cong Viettel) or constantly change coaches (Hanoi FC, Ninh Binh FC), leading to instability, Polking's ball control and pressing machine operated smoothly and systematically, as if programmed, thanks to absolute stability. Stability is also key to long-term races. CAHN FC rose not only because of their strength, but also because of their unwavering determination.

While CAHN FC is in good physical condition after a full 8-day rest, Nam Dinh FC just had to "burn through energy" in Selangor (Malaysia) in the first leg of the ASEAN Club Championship semi-final on May 6th. Coach Vu Hong Viet's team has just returned to Vietnam and had to travel to Hanoi without time to rest. Next week, Nam Dinh FC will play Selangor in the second leg of the semi-final. With such a packed and demanding schedule, how much energy does Nam Dinh have left to face CAHN FC on the evening of May 10th? And even if they play their best, the chances of Xuan Son and his teammates winning are not high. Despite their strong performance in the middle of the season, Nam Dinh's strength has diminished after their championship season. Coach Vu Hong Viet's team will find it difficult to stop CAHN FC, who are brimming with determination to win the V-League title early.

Conversely, The Cong Viettel faces a tough challenge at the Ha Tinh Stadium. Coach Velizar Popov's team has drawn 3 of their last 5 matches, showing signs of fatigue in the final stretch. With their chances of winning the championship fading, The Cong Viettel will struggle to maintain their momentum. In contrast, Ha Tinh FC has a new coach in Phan Nhu Thuat. Thuat was appointed to replace Coach Nguyen Cong Manh, with the expectation of helping Ha Tinh FC climb to the middle of the table. With this new lease of life, the team from Central Vietnam will not let The Cong Viettel leave with three points.

Dramatic final moments

As the championship race nears its end, the battle for second and third place remains intense, between The Cong Viettel (second place, 43 points), Hanoi FC (third, 39 points), and Ninh Binh FC (fourth, 38 points). While The Cong Viettel is slowing down, Hanoi FC is accelerating rapidly with four consecutive wins, putting pressure on second place. Ninh Binh FC is also striving to bounce back and return to the top three.

Hanoi FC will be playing away at Thanh Hoa (6 PM on May 9th), a team with a 90% chance of successfully avoiding relegation. At the same time, Ninh Binh FC will be playing at home against Hai Phong, a team also nearing the end of their season. The wealthy clubs will be fighting for every single point to secure a consolation medal this season.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tan-vuong-v-league-sap-lo-dien-185260508194252591.htm