The play-off match for promotion to V.League 2025-2026 is heating up

Truong Tuoi Binh Phuoc and Da Nang clubs will meet in the play-off match for a place in the V.League 2025-2026. Right now, the heat has begun to appear off the field.

According to the announcement of Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF), the play-off match between the 13th ranked team of V.League and the runner-up of the First Division will take place at Thong Nhat Stadium (HCMC) if the match consists of a team from the Central region meeting a team from the South. When Binh Phuoc is determined to be the representative of the South and Da Nang is the representative of the Central region, the match is scheduled to be held in HCMC.

The match between Da Nang and Binh Phuoc received much attention. Photo: VPF

However, Da Nang Club believes that organizing the match at Thong Nhat Stadium is not suitable for geographical factors. The team has sent a document requesting to re-select a stadium located between the Central and Southern regions to facilitate the travel of the two teams and fans.

VPF has sent a response letter to Da Nang Club, stating: “Currently, all preparations related to the organization contract, implementation of sponsorship, television, communication as well as the application of VAR,... for the match as planned have been implemented and completed.

Therefore, changing the venue of the 2024-2025 play-off match to Quy Nhon Stadium as requested by Da Nang club, in the current urgent time conditions, is not possible.

The tournament organizers request Da Nang club to focus on fully implementing preparations and participation, ensuring that the 2024-2025 play-off match on June 27 at Thong Nhat Stadium takes place as scheduled.

It can be seen that the heat of the match has been pushed up from this moment. Because considering the balance of power as well as the current situation, Binh Phuoc is considered to have a slight advantage.

In this match, Da Nang did not have any foreign players in their squad. Meanwhile, Binh Phuoc’s squad had many stars such as: Bui Tan Truong, Huynh Tan Sinh, Sam Ngoc Duc, Tran Phi Son, Ho Tuan Tai, Nguyen Cong Phuong, Le Thanh Binh…

Midfielder Hoang Minh Tam of Binh Phuoc has played for Da Nang for many years and understands his former teammates. Coach Huynh Quoc Anh - a former famous player of Da Nang football, won the V.League championship in 2009, 2012 and won the Vietnam Golden Ball in 2012. Those are the visible advantages of Binh Phuoc.

In particular, Cong Phuong’s return at this time also brings support to Binh Phuoc. Coach Le Duc Tuan of Binh Phuoc also said: “Cong Phuong is in good form and has the courage after playing abroad. We will lock in this strength of theirs to achieve the best results.”

Mr. Son also offered a reward of up to 10 billion VND to Binh Phuoc if they win the ticket to the first division. This is a great source of encouragement for Cong Phuong and his teammates. The striker from Nghe An is facing a great opportunity to return to the V.League from next season. If he can achieve this, it will be a great achievement for Cong Phuong when he returns home to play for a First Division team.

Cong Phuong shared: "My teammates and I are very happy to win against Long An . Thus, Binh Phuoc will participate in the play-off for promotion to V-League 2025-2026. The whole team will try to focus more, determined to win the play-off match. If that comes true, it will be great for the fans of the province."

The match between Da Nang and Binh Phuoc will take place at 6:00 p.m. on June 27. The winning team will participate in the 2025-2026 V.League, while the losing team will accept to play in the First Division.

The play-off match will only take place once, and if there is a draw, the winner will be decided by a penalty shootout. The match will be supported by VAR technology and 2 foreign referees.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai fans ask for grass as souvenir

The plan is to replace the old ginger grass surface with coniferous grass, a common type of grass in modern football fields.

Immediately after the groundbreaking ceremony, workers began dismantling equipment on the field such as electronic billboards, corner flags, goals... to prepare for the current grass layer removal.

The ginger grass field at Pleiku Stadium has been used since before 1975, which means it is more than 50 years old.

Many Hoang Anh Gia Lai fans were present at the stadium that morning to ask for the old grass patches to bring home and plant as souvenirs.

Mr. Nguyen Tan Anh - CEO of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club - said: "Right after the last match of V.League 2024-2025 with Quang Nam, we started to replace the grass to ensure completion before the opening day of the new season on August 15. Switching to using coniferous grass will help improve the quality of the field, better serving the team's technical passing style of play." Besides Pleiku Arena, Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club is also testing a new type of grass at a training ground in Ham Rong.

This is a step to evaluate the adaptability of coniferous grass to local soil conditions, while ensuring training for the first team and nearly 200 young players of the team. ( HH )

Source: https://cand.com.vn/the-thao/tran-play-off-tranh-ve-len-choi-v-league-2025-2026-nong-dan-i772521/