According to the group stage results, the representative of Vietnam will face Port FC (Thailand), Johor Darul Ta'zim (Malaysia), Lion City Sailors (Singapore), Svay Rieng (Cambodia), Persib Bandung (Indonesia) and the winning team in the play-off match between Ezra FC (Laos) and Shan United (Myanmar).
Among these, Johor Darul Ta'zim is considered the most formidable opponent when it is dominating the Malaysian championship for many consecutive seasons. Port FC is also a strong team in the Thai League and once owned many Thai national team players in the squad.
The remaining teams are rated lower in terms of experience as well as squad quality compared to Hanoi Police Club. This helps coach Alexandre Polking's team to be assessed as having the opportunity to compete for one of the top positions in the group.
In Group A, defending champion Buriram United is in the same group as Ratchaburi (Thailand), Kuching City (Malaysia), Tampines Rovers (Singapore), Borneo FC (Indonesia), the representative of the Vietnam National Cup championship and the winning team in the play-off match between Kasuka FC (Brunei) and Manila Digger (Philippines).
Hanoi Police Club once won the runner-up title of ASEAN Club Championship 2024-2025 after losing to Buriram United in the final. The police team continues to participate in the regional playground with the ambition to compete for titles.
Last season, coach Polking's team did not go deep in the regional arena but had more conditions to focus on the race in the V.League. The team is also actively preparing forces before the summer transfer window to aim for many goals in the new season.
The ASEAN Club Championship 2026-2027 is scheduled to kick off on August 8 with a play-off round and last until February 2027. This is a tournament for top Southeast Asian clubs organized by the Association of Southeast Asian Football Federations (AFF).
