Hanoi, 8 September, 2025 – Hoa Binh FC has officially withdrawn from the 2025/26 National First Division and the 2025/26 National Cup, leaving only 12 teams to compete in the upcoming second-tier season of Vietnamese football.
On the afternoon of September 8, the club submitted an official letter to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and the Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF), confirming their decision not to participate in either competition this season. In the document, Hoa Binh cited “force majeure factors” that have directly impacted the team’s planning and operations, ultimately leading to their withdrawal.
The absence of Hoa Binh means the First Division will now feature 12 teams instead of the originally scheduled 13. The confirmed list of participating clubs includes Bac Ninh, Van Hien University, Dong Thap, Gia Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Long An, Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City Youth (expected to change its name to Thanh Nien Ho Chi Minh City), PVF-CAND Youth, Dong Nai, Quang Ninh, and Quy Nhon United.
To adjust for the change in competition format, VPF announced that the draw for the 2025/26 First Division will be redone. The rescheduled draw ceremony is set for the morning of September 11.
Meanwhile, the National Cup will proceed without any alterations to its draw. According to the original schedule, Khanh Hoa was set to face Hoa Binh in the qualifying round. With Hoa Binh’s withdrawal, Khanh Hoa has been awarded automatic progression to the round of 16. As a result, the National Cup will now include 25 clubs, competing across 24 matches.
The 2025/26 First Division is scheduled to kick off on September 19, 2025, and will conclude on June 20, 2026. The National Cup will begin earlier, with the first qualifying matches set for September 12, 2025, and the final scheduled for June 28, 2026.
This sudden development is a setback for the central province of Hoa Binh, which has been looking to grow its football presence since the club was established. Hoa Binh’s exit also serves as a reminder of the financial and logistical difficulties many lower-tier Vietnamese clubs face.
Despite this, the remaining 12 First Division teams are expected to deliver a competitive season, especially as the league continues to serve as a crucial proving ground for clubs aspiring to reach V.League 1. With promotion and relegation stakes in place, the upcoming campaign promises to remain intense and unpredictable.
The withdrawal also reduces the diversity of the National Cup’s opening rounds but could heighten the competition as clubs from across the country battle for one of Vietnamese football’s most prestigious trophies.
Hong Phuc
Leave a Reply