The two extremes of V-League 2025/26

CAHN's impressive title victory does more than just showcase their power; it also underscores the growing divide within the V-League. In professional soccer, while financial backing is essential, it is management, youth development, and long-term planning that truly determine success.

The seasonThe 2025/26 V-Leagueconcluded with a fully deserved championship for CAHN. With 64 points, the team ofhead coach Alexandre Polkingequaled the points record set by Hanoi FC in the 2018 season and maintained consistency throughout.

However, looking deeper at the standings, the story is not only about CAHN's dominance but also reflects the strong polarization trend in Vietnamese football.

Besides the champions, The Cong Viettel earned 54 points and Ninh Binh achieved 51 points. These are point totals that would have been enough to compete for the title in many previous seasons.

In particular,The Cong Viettelhas reasons to feel regret. Coach Velizar Popov's side lost only two matches all season and never suffered defeat against CAHN. Two slip-ups against SLNA and HAGL cost them the chance to compete for the title until the very end.

Meanwhile, Ninh Binh made a huge impression in their first season back in the V-League. With strong investment and the arrival of coach Chu Dinh Nghiem for the upcoming season, the ancient capital team could well become a genuine title contender in the near future.

Hanoi FCfinished fourth with 46 points, a tally that would have earned a medal in many previous seasons. However, failing to finish in the top three for the first time in over a decade shows the fierce competition among the leading group this season. Still, the 10-point gap between Hanoi FC and fifth-placed Cong An TP.HCM also reflects the significant class difference between the top group and the rest.

On the other hand, the relegation race remains a familiar story for many clubs such as HAGL, SLNA, Hong Linh Ha Tinh, Thanh Hoa, PVF-CAND, and Becamex TP.HCM. This creates a very clear picture of two extremes in the current V-League.

The most successful clubs of the season share many common traits: strong financial resources, stable management systems, quality youth academies, and capable coaches. CAHN thrived under Polking, The Cong Viettel made their mark with Popov's pragmatic style, and Ninh Binh demonstrated a solid professional foundation from the time of coach Gerard Albadalejo Castano.

Conversely, Becamex TP.HCM is a prime example of how money cannot replace a development strategy. The team from the land of Thu has constantly changed coaches over the years, leading to instability in playing style and mentality. Additionally, ineffective foreign player selection also contributed to pushing the club into a crisis that resulted in relegation.

While academies like Hanoi FC, The Cong Viettel, SLNA, PVF, and HAGL continuously supply players for their first teams, Becamex TP.HCM has barely made a significant mark in this area for many years. The model relying primarily on player purchases is no longer a formula for success in the V-League.

The 2025-2026 V-Leaguecan therefore be seen as a milestone in the purification process of Vietnamese football. The league is gradually becoming a playground for clubs with strong financial foundations, professional management, sustainable development strategies, and systematic training. The gap between the top and bottom groups will continue to widen if clubs do not change their operational mindset.

The past season has revealed a clear truth: in modern football, money is very important, but money alone is not enough.