In the 2024-2025 season, the National First Division will have only 11 teams. This has somewhat affected the quality of the matches. The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF) expect a breakthrough from the 2025-2026 season, with the participation of 14 teams.
Accordingly, 4 teams from the Second Division promoted to the next level, including Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh, Gia Dinh and Van Hien University, will join 9 teams from the 2024-2025 season and Binh Dinh will be relegated from the V.League to form 14 teams participating in the First Division in the 2025-2026 season. However, with the merger of some localities, some teams do not know whether they will participate in the new season or not.
In Dong Nai province, the Binh Phuoc Fresh School team has changed its name to Dong Nai Fresh School. The decision to change the name received high consensus from the Standing Committee of Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People's Committee, Department of Culture - Sports and Tourism, Vietnam Football Federation as well as Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company. This is not only a change in the title but also shows the club's flexible adaptation and determination to transform strongly in the new period.
With this decision, Dong Nai province is almost certain to have only one team participating in the First Division next season. As for the old Dong Nai team, it is not known how they will be handled?
In Khanh Hoa province, the main sponsor has also sent a document to the Provincial People's Committee to return the team, putting the team at risk of not being able to participate in the First Division next season. Currently, local leaders are having a plan. First, still allow the team to register for the First Division next season, the funding will be mobilized from local units.
It is estimated that the cost for the team to maintain operations is about 20 billion VND. Option 2, the team will not register for the tournament and will compete in the third division next season to maintain the movement in the locality.
Currently, some teams in the First Division have gathered to prepare for the new season such as Bac Ninh, Binh Dinh, Dong Thap or Quang Ninh. However, there are still some teams in waiting mode such as Khanh Hoa, Long An or Dong Nai...
Most likely, VPF's plan to increase the number of teams in the First Division next season will be difficult to realize. Especially when PVF-CAND was recently promoted to participate in V.League next season to replace Quang Nam.
With the current situation, VPF may have to consider another option, in the spirit that having any more teams register to participate in the First Division next season is also a welcome thing.
According to the plan, the new First Division will start on September 19.
