Say no to exceptions
Recently, the Vietnam Football Federation announced the licensing of V.League 2026-2027 for 12 clubs including Becamex HCMC, Cong An Hanoi, Cong An HCMC, Hanoi FC, Hong Linh Ha Tinh, Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, PVF-CAND, Song Lam Nghe An, SHB Da Nang and The Cong Viettel.
The 4 teams licensed with conditions include Truong Tuoi Dong Nai, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong FC and Dong A Thanh Hoa because there are still some items to be added.
Hai Phong and Thanh Hoa must complete financial and administrative personnel dossiers before May 22, 2026. If they do not meet the criteria of professional football, the VFF Licensing Board will revoke the license.
This move shows the VFF's seriousness in licensing, after many years of exceptional licensing affecting the operation of the tournament and the image of Vietnamese football in the continental arena.
For example, the V.League over the past decade has witnessed many teams disbanding for various reasons such as Hanoi ACB (2011-2012), Hoa Phat Hanoi (2011), Khanh Hoa (2012), Xuan Thanh Saigon Cement (2012), Kien Giang (2013), Ninh Binh (2014), Than Quang Ninh (2021), Saigon (2022) or recently Quang Nam (2025)...
Finance, personnel, and top management are inherent causes, causing many teams to be "erased", forcing VPF and VFF to adjust the league organization, scoring methods, competition plans, transfers and transfers. If professional criteria are tightened right from the licensing stage, V.League will limit the risk of teams "breaking up halfway".
The case of Song Lam Nghe An having to find a sponsor to reach a minimum budget of 45 billion VND in the V.League next season shows that financial requirements are an important condition for teams to maintain operations, pay salaries, bonuses, transfers and develop youth training.
No more regrettable incidents in Asia
Tightening professional football criteria not only helps the V.League become more stable but also limits controversies when teams participate in international arenas. This year, Thanh Hoa has had to handle transfer bans twice from FIFA due to slow payment of foreign players' salaries.
In the context of financial difficulties, if the dossier is not completed before May 22 as required by the VFF Licensing Board, Thanh Hoa is at risk of not being able to participate in the V.League next season.
A similar story with Hai Phong. It should be added that this is not the first time the home team of Lach Tray stadium has fallen into the VFF's "list of concerns". In 2024, Hai Phong, along with Thanh Hoa, Binh Dinh, and Binh Phuoc, was only accepted by the Licensing Board to participate in the V.League but was accompanied by penalties for not meeting all the criteria as required by the organizers.
Mr. Pham Ngoc Vien - former General Secretary of VFF - once emphasized: "Licensing Vietnamese clubs is very important, especially for cases of winning tickets to Asian tournaments. For more than a decade, the VFF licensing board has continuously updated new regulations from the Asian Football Federation, disseminated to teams to strive to create a professional face for national football.
We expect that the implementation of 5 professional football criteria will help clubs raise their level of management and sports management. In the process of implementation, problems are inevitable in various factors. VFF, VPF will work with the team to remove them step by step.
Mr. Nguyen Minh Ngoc - General Director of VPF - said that the success of Vietnamese football in the Asian arena comes from the professionalism of the clubs. Therefore, V.League teams need to strive to meet high standards, creating a stable and sustainable foundation for national football.
