BREAKING: Vietnam national team receives crucial news for AFF Cup.

The VFF and CAHN Club will work together to develop an optimal player selection and usage plan that balances the club's benefits with the power of the Vietnam national team.

The fact that Hanoi Police Club (CAHN) is set to compete in the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite play-off. This carries significance not only for the police club but also directly impacts the Vietnam national team's schedule. The match coincides with the period when Coach Kim Sang Sik's squad is gathering to prepare for the 2026 AFF Cup, especially as CAHN currently holds several key national team players.

In light of this situation, The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has proactively engaged with CAHN Club to establish a suitable coordination plan. The aim is to ensure the Vietnam national team has the strongest lineup for the regional tournament while also enabling the Vietnamese club representative to fulfill its mission in Asia's top club competition.

According to the list of participating teams and slot allocation for the 2026/27 season recently released by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Hanoi Police Club – champion of the 2025/26 LPBank V.League 1 – will be Vietnam's sole representative in the AFC Champions League Elite play-off. Their opponent under Coach Mano Polking is Adelaide United from Australia.

The play-off will take place on August 11 at Adelaide United's home ground. Per AFC regulations, the higher-seeded team earns the right to host the preliminary round. In the East region, Australia currently ranks fifth on the AFC Member Associations league ranking, while Vietnam is seventh. Therefore, Adelaide United is seeded and enjoys home advantage.

This match is of exceptional importance to CAHN Club. A victory would see the Vietnamese representative officially enter the group stage of the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite – Asia's most prestigious club competition. If they lose, Coach Mano Polking's team will still compete in the AFC Champions League Two, the second-tier Asian club tournament.

With a spirit of harmonizing club interests and national duty, the VFF and relevant parties will develop a flexible plan for player call-ups and utilization. The shared goal is to help the Vietnam national team prepare optimally for the 2026 AFF Cup, while also creating conditions for CAHN Club to achieve high results as Vietnam's representative on the continental stage.