Xuan Thien Phu Tho joins the first division, Cong Phuong's team faces a 'terrorist' opponent

Joining the first division in 2025 - 2026, Xuan Thien Phu Tho Club is a strong candidate for promotion, alongside Truong Tuoi Dong Nai of Cong Phuong and Xuan Truong.

Cong Phuong's Dong Nai Tuoi School competes with Phu Tho

The promotion race in the first division 2025 - 2026 was initially considered to be decided early, when Truong Tuoi Dong Nai Club of Xuan Truong, Cong Phuong, Tuan Tai, Minh Vuong... possessed a force superior to the rest.

However, the hidden turmoil right before the tournament's opening day changed the situation. Hoa Binh Club withdrew from the tournament, while Gia Dinh Club "moved" to the North, changing its name to Xuan Thien Phu Tho. Although the main force came from the old Gia Dinh team and Hoa Binh, but with strong investment from businesses, Xuan Thien Phu Tho is a strong candidate for promotion to V-League.

First Division Round 1 Schedule

PHOTO: VPF

Besides the participation of Xuan Thien Phu Tho and Truong Tuoi Dong Nai (last season's first division runner-up), this year's tournament also has names worth watching such as Bac Ninh Club, the million-dollar team of coach Park Hang-seo, the one-time powerhouse named Quang Ninh Club, or the "phenomenon" Van Hien University, the team that recently recruited striker Jermie Lynch as a foreign player.

The fact that this year's first division has 2 direct promotion slots (instead of 1 direct slot and 1 play-off slot like previous years) also promises to make the promotion race more interesting to watch, as the tournament's regulations have urged teams to invest money in their forces. The number of first division teams has decreased from 13 to 12, but the competitive nature has not changed.

This season, Southern football has 3 representatives playing in Ho Chi Minh City, including Thanh Nien Ho Chi Minh City Club, Ho Chi Minh City Club and Van Hien University. In which, Thanh Nien Ho Chi Minh City and Van Hien University both registered their home stadium as Thong Nhat Stadium, while Ho Chi Minh City team played at Ba Ria Stadium.

Attractive from round 1

The first division was exciting right from the opening round, when Truong Tuoi Dong Nai Club with the best players Cong Phuong and Xuan Truong played at home to welcome Ho Chi Minh City Club (formerly Ba Ria - Vung Tau Club).

Will Dong Nai Tuoi School not miss the promotion ticket?

PHOTO: DONG NAI TUOI SCHOOL

Xuan Thien Phu Tho will start their journey under the new name with an away match against Dong Thap. This is also a match to test the strength and ambition of the team from the homeland.

Quang Ninh FC also had to play away in the opening round, against PVF-CAND Youth. PVF-CAND Youth only finished third in the second division last season, but because Dong Nai left the league (and Truong Tuoi Binh Phuoc became Truong Tuoi Dong Nai), PVF-CAND Youth was promoted to replace them.

Van Hien University Club will visit Quy Nhon United Stadium (formerly Binh Dinh Club), Ho Chi Minh City Youth Club will face the "big guy" Bac Ninh, while two V-League veterans Khanh Hoa and Long An will face each other in the opening round at 19.8 Stadium (Nha Trang).

The first division has a total of 22 rounds with 132 matches, starting from September 19, 2025 and ending in June 2026, applying the round-robin format (home - away) to calculate ranking points.

This season, each participating club is allowed to register a maximum of 1 foreign player, 1 naturalized player and 2 overseas Vietnamese.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/xuan-thien-phu-tho-gia-nhap-giai-hang-nhat-doi-cua-cong-phuong-gap-doi-khung-185250911103329615.htm