On March 10, at the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) headquarters, the Vietnam Professional Football (VPF) company held a conference to discuss preparations for the 2025/2026 national professional football competitions. The meeting gathered representatives from VPF, VFF, and professional clubs to deliberate on key organizational matters, including the scheduling of matches and proposed adjustments to competition regulations.
During the meeting, VPF presented two proposed schedules for the 2025/2026 season, which had been shared with professional clubs in advance to gather feedback. The discussion focused on balancing domestic competitions with international commitments, particularly the participation of Vietnam’s national teams in major tournaments.
The first option suggests that the 2025/2026 season will commence with the Vietnam Super Cup on August 9, 2025, followed by the opening round of V.League 1 on August 15, 2025. The league would then run until June 18, 2026. This schedule incorporates regular FIFA Days breaks and includes a two-month pause to accommodate SEA Games 33 and Vietnam U23’s potential participation in the AFC U23 Asian Cup finals. The extended break is aimed at ensuring the national U23 squad has adequate preparation and recovery time for these crucial international tournaments.
The second option comes into effect if Vietnam U23 does not qualify for the AFC U23 Asian Cup finals. In this case, while the season’s start and end dates remain unchanged, the two-month break would be reduced to a one-month break, allocated exclusively for SEA Games 33, alongside the usual FIFA Days interruptions. This alternative allows for a more continuous domestic league schedule while still considering international obligations.
In addition to scheduling, another key topic discussed was the regulations concerning foreign players. Many clubs proposed increasing the quota of foreign players allowed in V.League 1 to enhance the league’s competitiveness and align with regional football trends. Additionally, there was a significant push to permit the registration of foreign players in the National First Division (V.League 2), which has traditionally restricted international signings. This change, if approved, could elevate the overall standard of the second-tier league and provide clubs with greater flexibility in squad building.
The VPF will continue to review feedback from clubs and stakeholders before finalizing the official schedule and regulatory adjustments for the 2025/2026 season.
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