Hanoi, 11 August, 2025 – The draw for the 2025/2026 Vietnamese National Cup has set up an early high-profile clash, with Hanoi FC meeting The Cong Viettel in the qualifying round.
On the morning of August 11, the Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF) conducted the official draw for the new National Cup season. The competition will feature 26 teams, including 14 V.League 1 clubs and 12 V.League 2 clubs. The PVF-CAND youth side will not participate, as they share the same management unit as PVF-CAND’s first team.
Six teams have been granted byes into the Round of 16: reigning champions Hanoi Police FC, Nam Dinh, last season’s runners-up Song Lam Nghe An, Hai Phong FC, Ho Chi Minh FC, and PVF-CAND. The remaining 20 clubs will compete in the qualifying round, with 10 winners joining the six seeded teams in the next stage.
The draw produced a particularly challenging path for defending champions Hanoi Police FC, who could face either The Cong Viettel or Hanoi FC in the Round of 16. The fixture between The Cong Viettel and Hanoi FC is undoubtedly the headline match of the qualifying stage, pitting two ambitious sides against each other in a knockout battle far earlier than expected. Another eye-catching tie will see Thanh Hoa take on Hoang Anh Gia Lai, promising an intense contest between two well-matched teams.
The National Cup 2025/2026 is scheduled to kick off on September 13, 2025, and conclude on June 28, 2026. The champion will earn a place in the ASEAN Club Championship (Shopee Cup) for the 2026/2027 season, along with a prize of 2 billion VND.
This season’s draw ensures that fans will witness high-stakes clashes from the very start, as several title contenders face the risk of an early exit. With both Hanoi FC and The Cong Viettel boasting strong squads and rich histories, their upcoming duel is expected to draw nationwide attention and set the tone for an unpredictable National Cup campaign.
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