Thai Nguyen, 20 June 2026 – The 2026 National Women’s Football Championship officially kicked off on June 20 at Thai Nguyen Stadium, marking a historic milestone for Vietnamese women’s football as the competition adopts a home-and-away league format for the first time.
The opening ceremony was attended by senior representatives from Vietnam’s sporting and football authorities, including Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Sports Administration Le Thi Hoang Yen, Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Vice President Tran Anh Tu, VFF General Secretary and Tournament Director Nguyen Van Phu, alongside local officials, club representatives, and sponsor delegates.
In his opening remarks, Nguyen Van Phu highlighted the significance of the 2026 season, emphasizing that the introduction of a home-and-away format will allow clubs to play in front of their own supporters, strengthen connections with local communities, and contribute to the long-term growth of the women’s game.
He also revealed that the VFF has begun implementing a pilot club licensing system for women’s football, aiming to improve governance standards, operational structures, and professional requirements across the league. The initiative is expected to create a more sustainable and competitive environment for clubs and players alike.
On behalf of the VFF, Nguyen Van Phu expressed gratitude to long-time title sponsor Thai Son Bac, which is supporting Vietnamese women’s football for the 15th consecutive season. He also thanked FIFA, local organizing committees, media partners, and supporters for their continued contributions to the development of the sport.
The 2026 National Women’s Championship features seven clubs: Hanoi I, Hanoi II, Thai Nguyen T&T, Than KSVN, Phong Phu Ha Nam, Ho Chi Minh City I, and Ho Chi Minh City II. Teams will compete in a double round-robin format from June 20 to October 23, with the champions earning a prize of 500 million VND, gold medals, and the right to represent Vietnam in the 2027/28 AFC Women’s Club Championship.
On the opening matchday, defending champions Ho Chi Minh City I faced Ho Chi Minh City II at Thanh Long Stadium. Head coach Doan Thi Kim Chi rotated her squad, leaving several key players on the bench, including star striker Huynh Nhu.
Despite dominating possession, Ho Chi Minh City I had to wait until the 41st minute to break the deadlock when Cu Thi Huynh Nhu produced a composed finish to put the reigning champions ahead before halftime.
Ho Chi Minh City II continued to fight hard after the break and caused problems for their more experienced opponents. However, Dau Nguyen Quynh Anh doubled the lead in the 70th minute, shifting the momentum firmly in favor of the title holders. K’Thua then scored twice, while Phan Thi Trang added another goal as Ho Chi Minh City I cruised to a convincing 5-0 victory.
A similar story unfolded in Ha Dong, where Hanoi I defeated Hanoi II 5-1 in the capital derby. Le Thi Trang opened the scoring in the first half before an own goal by Nguyen Thi Linh further extended Hanoi I’s advantage.
Although Thanh Thao pulled one back for Hanoi II, the younger side struggled to contain their opponents in the closing stages. Nguyen Thi Hang struck twice and veteran forward Pham Hai Yen also found the net, helping Hanoi I secure an emphatic opening-day victory.
The launch of the new home-and-away format, combined with convincing wins from two of the league’s traditional powerhouses, provided an exciting start to what promises to be a landmark season for women’s football in Vietnam.
VSN/RPT
Leave a Reply