Ha Tinh, 12 June 2026 – Bac Ninh FC secured a historic promotion to V.League 1 after defeating PVF-CAND in a dramatic playoff decided by penalties, earning the final spot in the 2026/27 top-flight season.
The winner-takes-all clash at Ha Tinh Stadium featured the 13th-placed V.League side against the National First Division runners-up, with both clubs desperate to claim a place among Vietnam’s elite next season. Reports suggested Bac Ninh FC had been promised a substantial bonus should they achieve promotion.
Given the significance of the match, VAR was used and the game was held at a neutral venue. FIFA referees Ahmad A’Qashah and Muhammad Taqi from Singapore were appointed to oversee the contest as match referee and VAR official respectively.
The encounter also reunited coaches Paulo Foiani and Tran Tien Dai, whose professional relationship dates back to the 2023 season when Tran Tien Dai brought Foiani to Vietnam to coach Hanoi Police FC.
Despite competing in the second tier, Bac Ninh were widely viewed as capable of matching their V.League opponents. Their squad included experienced players such as Huynh Tuan Linh, Truong Van Thiet, Nguyen Hai Huy, Ngan Van Dai, and Brazilian striker Bruno Cunha. The one-foreign-player rule for the playoff also reduced PVF-CAND’s usual advantage, as they were accustomed to fielding multiple overseas players.
Bac Ninh looked the sharper side during the first half and broke the deadlock in the 28th minute. After Ngan Van Dai was brought down inside the penalty area, referee Ahmad A’Qashah reviewed the incident via VAR before awarding a penalty. Bruno Cunha stepped up and calmly converted to put Bac Ninh ahead.
PVF-CAND improved significantly after the break and found an equalizer in the 55th minute. Eid delivered a precise cross from the left flank, allowing veteran striker Samson to power a header into the top corner and make it 1-1.
The equalizer led to a more cautious approach from both teams. While chances were created at either end, neither side could find a winner during regulation time, forcing the match into a penalty shootout.
Bac Ninh appeared to be in trouble after missing two spot-kicks, but PVF-CAND failed to capitalize on the opportunities. The V.League side also squandered crucial penalties, eventually falling 5-4 in the shootout.
The final whistle sparked wild celebrations for Bac Ninh. Players sprinted across the pitch in jubilation, while head coach Paulo Foiani dropped to his knees in tears. Supporters in the stands celebrated the club’s greatest achievement with songs, flares, and emotional scenes.
The result marked one of the biggest upsets in recent Vietnamese football history. It was only the fourth time a First Division club had defeated a V.League side in a promotion/relegation playoff and the first such success in 13 years. The previous instance came in 2014 when Can Tho defeated An Giang 3-0.
Founded in 2023, Bac Ninh FC have enjoyed a rapid rise. After acquiring Gia Dinh’s Second Division slot, the club accelerated its development and appointed former Vietnam national team coach Park Hang-seo as a senior advisor. Their runners-up finish in the 2025/26 First Division campaign has now been rewarded with a place in V.League 1.
For PVF-CAND, the defeat ends a difficult season. After replacing the dissolved Quang Nam club in the V.League, they struggled throughout the campaign and survived only by a narrow margin before ultimately losing their top-flight status in the playoff.
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