Be careful with foreign players
The 2026 National Championship continues to be organized in 2 rounds. Round 1 takes place in April in Dong Anh (Hanoi) and round 2 takes place in October in Ho Chi Minh City (men's division) and Vinh Long (women's division). The 2026 National Championship regulations limit each team to register a maximum of 2 foreign players, but only allow 1 foreign player to play at any time.
Representatives of the Vietnam Volleyball Federation said that this is the preparation stage for the teams, so the official registration has not been sent to the federation. When there is registration, the Vietnam Volleyball Federation will carry out procedures for foreign players in accordance with FIVB regulations. It is expected that February and March 2026 will be the time when all teams will decide on official foreign players.
However, each team is cautiously choosing foreign players even though they have received introductions from brokerage units. The decisive factor in hiring foreign players depends on professional qualifications and transfer costs.
Currently in Vietnam, teams do not hire foreign players for the whole season. Therefore, each round is looking for suitable players. Costs and quality of foreign players always go hand in hand. There are many brokers introducing famous players in Southeast Asia and Asia to teams in Vietnam, but the cost is always very high. Not every team has a large budget to pay for it. Because foreign players only play briefly, in stages," shared a representative of a volleyball team participating in the 2026 National Championship (who asked to remain anonymous).
The 2025 National Championship recorded 18 foreign players participating in the men's event in 2 rounds. The women's event also had 18 foreign players coming to Vietnam to compete in 2 rounds last year. The transfer value has been kept secret, but the lowest contract is no less than 10,000 USD. At the end of the 2025 National Championship, only 2 foreign players won the national championship, Roni Jones-Perry (VTV Binh Dien Long An) and Jakkrit Thanomnoi (Bien Phong MB).
Currently, 2 defending National Champion teams, VTV Binh Dien Long An and MB Border Guard, have confirmed that they will hire foreign players to strengthen in the first round of the 2026 National Championship, but have not yet decided on a specific face.
Pressure to choose the best person
The National Volleyball Championship has been shortened to 8 men's teams and 8 women's teams. The pressure to achieve achievements as well as stay in the league is very high. Each team is forced to choose foreign players with sufficient expertise to hold the main position to solve achievement requirements. Last year, Bien Phong MB team trusted to hire Thai foreign player Jakkrit Thanomnoi because the player ensured defensive requirements when playing.
Meanwhile, main attacker Roni Jones-Perry completed his role as the decisive scorer when VTV Binh Dien Long An team needed a situation point. Assessing the quality of foreign players in the 2025 National Championship, representatives of the Vietnam Volleyball Federation said that players coming to Vietnam are more versatile than in previous seasons. This is a positive point that helps the national championship be enhanced in value.
At this time, about 10 teams out of 16 teams participating in the 2026 National Championship have been introduced foreign players. However, no team has officially selected. Some brokers continue to introduce foreign players from the Chinese National Championship. However, in addition to choosing suitable players in terms of funding, professional factors must still be prioritized. Therefore, the top priority that brokers give to football teams is main attacking and opponent positions.
The main attacking player is still the top priority of many teams. Because this position holds the key factor when playing, but above all, it is still necessary to complete the first defensive step. This is why teams are very fond of foreign players in the main attacking position. The opponent position is also of significant interest because scoring points must be prioritized" - a representative of the Vietnam Volleyball Federation exchanged.
