An incomplete season for southern football

The 2025/26 season ended with a range of feelings for football in the southern region. Following many seasons of underperformance compared to the rest, southern football at last celebrated victories from Công an TP.HCM and partially from Đồng Nai's promotion, though V-League had to part ways with the historic club Becamex TP.HCM.

It took eight years since Becamex Bình Dương won the National Cup in 2018 for southern football to again taste the thrill of triumph in a major competition. The 2025/26 National Cup victory of Công an TP.HCM not only carried significance in terms of achievement but also reaffirmed the return of a region that once played a key role in Vietnam's football map.

In recent seasons, southern teams have frequently been left out of title races. Therefore, the cup won by Công an TP.HCM felt like a long-awaited rain, bringing hope that southern football still has the capacity to compete with other regions.

Beyond the National Cup triumph, one of the season's biggest highlights was the performance under coach Phùng Thanh Phương. Few expected Công an TP.HCM to finish in the V-League top five, given the club's earlier period of instability.

The departure of coach Lê Huỳnh Đức had raised concerns that Công an TP.HCM would fall into a relegation battle. However, once again, coach Phùng Thanh Phương proved his value as a replacement expert. More importantly, the club also contributed players to the national team.

Two national team members, Lê Giang and Khoa Ngô, had outstanding seasons and are expected to make positive contributions to Vietnam's defense of the ASEAN Cup 2026 title. Additionally, the most notable name was overseas Vietnamese striker Lee Williams.

At just 19 years old, the striker, standing over 1.90 meters tall, became the club's top scorer. Lee Williams also shows great development potential thanks to his ideal physical foundation. If properly invested and developed, he could be a major discovery.

Another joy for southern football was the return of Đồng Nai. After years of investment, persistent squad building, and big ambitions, the team from the Southeast region finally earned promotion to the V-League.

Đồng Nai not only enlivens the professional football map of the southern region but also promises to create significant excitement in the upcoming season. With former HAGL stars such as Công Phượng, Minh Vương, and Xuân Trường on board, Đồng Nai has reason to expect a passionate atmosphere, a positive signal to make the V-League more exciting.

However, the southern football picture this season still had a major dark spot. That was Becamex TP.HCM's relegation after more than two decades of continuous presence in Vietnam's top tier.

From a dominant domestic force with four V-League titles, second only to Hà Nội FC, the club formerly known as Becamex Bình Dương was once the pride of the south. It represented a glorious era of development, numerous titles, and top stars contributing to the national team.

Becamex TP.HCM's fall to the First Division is therefore not just a sorrow for one club but also a wake-up call for the entire professional football scene. In modern football, no value is permanent. A glorious past cannot guarantee future success without innovation, reform, and adaptation.