AFC Champions League 2026-25: The Journey of Vietnamese Football Through Continental Challenges

On the night of November 12, 2026, Thong Nhat Stadium fell into an unusual silence. The first-leg playoff match of the AFC Champions League between Ho Chi Minh City FC and Thailand's Buriram United ended with a 2-0 victory for the visitors. There were no boisterous cheers like World Cup or AFF Cup nights — only the sound of motorbikes passing through the fence and a few scattered claps from the A stands. I stood at my familiar corner spot since 2026, where I once witnessed Cong Phuong score the season's most beautiful goal, and realized a blunt reality: Vietnamese football stands at a major crossroads on its journey to conquer the continental stage. The truth isn't as palatable as the praising posts on social media. Over the past 5 years, since the V-League entered deeper professionalization, Vietnamese clubs have only advanced past the AFC Champions League or AFC Cup playoffs 7 times. That figure equals an average of 1.4 times per season — a rate that should make any analyst question long-term development strategies. Tonight, Ho Chi Minh City FC became Vietnam's fourth representative to fail the playoff round in the 2026-25 season, extending a concerning streak of Vietnamese football's continental struggles. I've been following Vietnamese football since 2026, when the World Cup was held in South Korea and Japan, and I still remember the feeling of a 23-year-old realizing the true gap between Asian and world football. Twenty-two years later, that gap isn't just about individual technique or fitness — it's about how we approach tournaments, how we build squads, and how we read opponents. This article isn't a verdict on Vietnamese football, nor is it a naive anthem about achievements. This is a status analysis grounded in specific data, on-site observations from stadium corridors, and experience following hundreds of continental matches. Part 1: The Big Picture — Where is Vietnamese Football on the Asian Map? According to transfermarkt.com data as of October 2026, the total squad value of 3 Vietnamese clubs participating in the 2026-25 AFC Champions League and AFC Cup (Ho Chi Minh City FC, Hanoi FC, and Nam Dinh) ranges from 3.2 to 5.8 million euros. This is significantly lower than the average 12-15 million euros of clubs from Japan and South Korea, and only comparable to mid-tier Thai or Malaysian teams. This isn't a number for inferiority — it's a starting point to honestly assess competitive ability. Over the past 3 seasons (2026-23, 2026-24, 2026-25), Vietnamese clubs have played a total of 18 matches in the official rounds of AFC Champions League and AFC Cup. Results: 4 wins, 3 draws, 11 losses. Win rate only 22.2% — a figure clearly reflecting the competitive gap. However, notably, those 4 wins came from 3 different clubs (Hanoi FC twice, Saigon FC once, and Nam Dinh once), showing Vietnamese football isn't lacking exceptional individuals but consistent systems. Part 2: Tactical Perspective — Why Does Vietnamese Playstyle Struggle Against Continental Opponents? The match between Ho Chi Minh City FC and Buriram United on November 12 is a typical case study. The team coached by Brazilian Maicao started with a familiar 4-3-3 formation, high pressing from the opponent's half. In the first 20 minutes, Ho Chi Minh City FC controlled 58% possession — a theoretically good number. But upon closer observation, most of that possession control occurred in the midfield area, where the Thai team deliberately ceded control to stretch the Vietnamese formation. The first goal came in the 34th minute after a rapid counter-attack through two straight passes. The visiting team's number 10 — a foreign attacking midfielder who previously played in J-League 2 — made an off-ball run through the line, completely breaking the home team's pressing structure. This is a persistent weakness of Vietnamese football: the ability to read defensive-to-attacking transitions by opponents remains slow, especially among young players lacking international experience. I once had a conversation with a former Vietnamese player who played in J-League 3 in 2026. He, who requested anonymity for sensitive reasons, shared a quote I believe is the key to understanding the problem: "In Japan, they taught me that pressing isn't about running faster than your opponent, but about reading their movement intentions before they move. In Vietnam, we teach players to run faster, not to think faster." This quote explains much about Vietnam's current youth development system — where fitness and technique are prioritized, but tactical thinking is overlooked. Part 3: Forgotten People — Stories from the Bench After the match, I waited in the parking garage of Thong Nhat Stadium. Around 11 PM, when most journalists had left, a substitute player for Ho Chi Minh City FC — who came on in the 72nd minute for a forward — sat alone on a concrete bench, phone in hand. I recognized him: a 21-year-old midfielder promoted from the U21 youth team last season, with 3 accurate passes in 18 minutes of play. No one mentioned his name in the next day's reports. I sat beside him, not asking about the match but about his life in the first team. He shared that his monthly salary is 15 million dong, lower than the regional minimum wage if calculated by actual working hours. He still shares a 15m2 rented room with 3 other teammates, with a shared kitchen in the hallway. When I asked about his dreams, he smiled: "I just want to become a regular in the V-League. Continental competitions, whatever — I haven't thought about that yet." His story reflects a deeper reality: Vietnam's player tiering system is too thin. While top Asian clubs have squads of 30-35 players with clear backup systems, Vietnamese clubs typically only have 22-25, with 5-6 positions reserved for foreign players. When a young player is promoted to the first team, they don't have enough playing time to develop — that's why many Vietnamese talents "stall" at ages 20-23, unable to take another step forward. Part 4: Counterintuitive Perspective — Is Continental Competition Really Necessary? This is the most controversial part of this article, and I know many will disagree. But based on 22 years of following Vietnamese football, I believe participating in the AFC Champions League or AFC Cup isn't necessarily the right priority for Vietnamese football's development at this stage. Look at the data: over the past 3 seasons, total AFC prize money for Vietnamese clubs only reached approximately $180,000 — divided among 6 participating clubs, each receiving only about $30,000. This amount isn't enough to cover travel, accommodation costs, and especially injury risks when players must compete at higher intensity. Many Vietnamese clubs have to borrow or seek additional sponsorship to have sufficient budgets for qualifying rounds. Counterarguments would be: participating in continental competitions helps Vietnamese players accumulate international experience, improve overall quality, and promote the V-League brand. These aren't wrong arguments, but they're only valid when clubs have sufficient competitive ability. When a Vietnamese team loses heavily 0-4, 0-5 against opponents from South Korea, Japan, or Saudi Arabia, can players really learn anything, or are they just receiving another lesson about the gap? I recall the match between Hanoi FC and Urawa Red Diamonds in 2026. The Japanese team won 4-0, but what impressed me wasn't the score but how Hanoi FC players moved in the second half — they started playing more confidently, dared to control the ball in the opponent's half, dared to attempt risky passes. That's the real value of facing stronger opponents: not the result, but the mindset shift. But to achieve that, players need more thorough preparation, both physically and mentally. Part 5: The Road Ahead — Optimistic Signals and Remaining Challenges Despite many weaknesses, Vietnamese football also has encouraging signals. First is the maturation of the 2026-2026 generation, who performed impressively at the 2026 U23 Asian Cup and 2026 AFF Cup. Among them, some players have attracted attention from Japanese and South Korean clubs and been placed on watchlists. This is a good sign showing youth training quality is gradually improving. Second is the more serious investment by some clubs in foreign coaching systems. Coaches like Parcival (Hanoi FC), Flavio (Nam Dinh), or Popov (Binh Duong) not only bring new playstyles but also train Vietnamese assistants in modern coaching methods. Though effectiveness isn't immediate, this is a solid foundation for the future. Third is the gradual professionalization of the V-League in terms of media and management. Matches are officially broadcast on multiple platforms, VAR systems are deployed in some stadiums, and clubs are beginning to have professional data analysis departments. These small changes, if maintained, will create a foundation for sustainable development. However, challenges remain significant. Club finances in the V-League still aren't thoroughly resolved — many teams still owe players monthly salaries, seriously affecting team morale and cohesion. The youth development system still lacks consistency, each club has its own methods, and the connection between youth academies and professional clubs remains loose. Finally, there's the issue of international competition mentality — Vietnamese players still tend to over-anxiety when competing on the continental stage, leading to hasty decisions and unnecessary mistakes. Returning to that night of November 12 at Thong Nhat Stadium. When I left, the young player was still sitting there, quietly looking at his phone screen. I don't know if he was reviewing the conceded goal or contacting family. But I know that in this stadium corridor, there are dozens of such stories — young people full of ambition, but lacking opportunities to shine. Vietnamese football doesn't need overly praising articles, nor does it need baseless negative criticism. Vietnamese football needs honesty — looking directly at the truth, accepting weaknesses, and persistently building from the smallest steps. That's the real journey of a football nation wanting to reach the continental level.