Hanoi, 22 August, 2025 – Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF) has officially announced the deadline for clubs to finalize the replacement and addition of foreign players in the first registration phase of the V.League 2025/26 season.
According to the statement, based on Article 11.1.2 of the league’s regulations, clubs are permitted to replace or add foreign players up until 15:00 on the day before the first match of Round 3. With the first fixture of Round 3 scheduled for August 27, 2025, the registration deadline has been set for 15:00 on August 26, 2025.
The VPF emphasized: “The deadline for replacing or adding players in the first registration period will officially close at 15:00 on August 26, 2025. We request all clubs participating in the V.League 2025/26 to urgently review and complete all necessary procedures and documentation to ensure compliance with the regulations.”
This adjustment period is seen as crucial for many clubs, especially those still fine-tuning their squads after the opening rounds of the new campaign. The ability to replace or reinforce foreign signings gives teams the flexibility to adapt to unexpected injuries, underperforming imports, or tactical adjustments required by coaches.
For the 2025/26 season, the V.League has implemented a significant change regarding relegation rules. Unlike previous seasons, where the bottom-placed team was directly relegated and the second-from-bottom played a playoff, this season will see two teams relegated directly to the V.League 2. This new format raises the stakes considerably, making every decision in squad building — particularly the choice of foreign players — even more critical.
In addition, clubs representing Vietnam in AFC competitions will be allowed to register up to seven foreign players, in line with the continental competition regulations. Meanwhile, the remaining V.League clubs can register a maximum of four foreign players, with only three permitted on the pitch at any given time.
This regulation ensures that clubs competing in Asia have sufficient depth to handle both domestic and continental fixtures, while still maintaining fairness and balance within the V.League itself.
The summer transfer window has already seen several big moves, with many clubs bolstering their squads with high-profile international signings. However, with the deadline approaching, there is likely to be a flurry of last-minute activity as teams look to secure the right foreign reinforcements before the cut-off point.
As the countdown to August 26 begins, all eyes will be on how clubs manage their foreign player slots. With the relegation battle set to be fiercer than ever and the competition for the title heating up, the decisions made in the next few days could prove decisive in shaping the course of the V.League 1 – 2025/26 season.
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