What's new in V.league 2025/2026?

On July 14, in Hanoi , Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF Company) held a drawing ceremony to schedule the National Football Championship for the 2025/2026 season (V.league 2025/2026).

Create conditions for football teams to compete in international playgrounds

The 2025/2026 National Professional Football Season is expected to start from August 9, 2025 with the 2024/2025 National Super Cup and end on June 28, 2026 with the National Cup Final. Meanwhile, the 2025/2026 National Football Championship (V.League 2025/2026) is expected to start from August 15, 2025.

V.league 2025/2026 will have 14 professional football teams participating including: Becamex Ho Chi Minh City (renamed from Becamex Binh Duong Club), Hanoi Police Football Club (CAHN), Ho Chi Minh City Police (renamed from Ho Chi Minh City Club), Dong A Thanh Hoa, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Hong Linh Ha Tinh, Ninh Binh (renamed from Phu Dong Ninh Binh Club), Quang Nam , SHB Da Nang, Song Lam Nghe An, Thep Xanh Nam Dinh, The Cong Viettel.

What's new in V.league 2025/2026? -0 — The new regulations on foreign players help teams like CAHN to be more flexible in rotating their forces.

VPF said it has adjusted the regulations on the number of foreign players that teams can register in the V.league. Accordingly, teams that have won a place in regional and continental tournaments can register up to 7 foreign players.

Because they have won the right to participate in Shopee Cup 2025/2026 and AFC Champions League 2, CAHN will have a fairly tight match schedule and being allowed to register up to 7 foreign players is a significant addition to coach Polking's team.

According to the draw results, CAHN will host the same city team The Cong - Viettel at Hang Day Stadium in the opening match of V.league 2025/2026. Immediately after that, CAHN will travel to Thailand to play away against BG Pathum United in the group stage match of Shopee Cup 2025/2026 on August 20. VPF's new regulations on foreign players help teams like CAHN to be more flexible in rotating forces when participating in many arenas at the same time.

VPF Chairman Tran Anh Tu affirmed that, similar to the previous season, VPF will create conditions for football teams to compete in regional competitions. Mr. Tu cited the fact that VPF adjusted the V.league 2024/2025 schedule to create conditions for CAHN to compete in the Shopee Cup 2024/2025.

More relegation spots, more VAR cars

Also in the 2025/2026 season, V.league will have new points when there are 2 direct relegation slots. According to Mr. Tran Anh Tu, increasing the number of direct relegation slots (from 1 to 2 slots) will improve the quality of competition in V.league.

The VPF President said that experience from previous seasons showed that some teams lost their motivation to compete when they had enough points to stay in the league.

In addition, in the 2025/2026 season, V.league will have 1 more VAR vehicle. Accordingly, in addition to the current 4 VAR vehicles, VPF is promoting procedures to bring another VAR vehicle to Vietnam to serve the match management work. V.league 2024/2025 has 4 VAR vehicles on duty, but in the last two rounds, due to many matches at the same time, some matches cannot have VAR.

It is known that VPF has also planned to increase VAR vehicles for the Central region.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/the-thao/v-league-2025-2026-co-gi-moi--i774744/