VFF announces great news for overseas Vietnamese players

Vietnamese football is seeing an important step in its personnel policy with overseas Vietnamese and naturalized players now officially having more chances to participate in the professional league system.

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has just issued the regulations for the 2026 National Second Division with many new points, notably allowing clubs to use overseas Vietnamese players without citizenship and naturalized players.

According to the new regulations, each team participating in the 2026 National Second Division is permitted to register and use up to 2 overseas Vietnamese players without Vietnamese nationality and 1 naturalized player. This decision is seen as a pathway for Vietnamese-origin players abroad to gain experience, showcase their abilities, and gradually integrate into the domestic professional football environment.

This move not only aims to improve the professional quality of the Second Division but also to create additional potential resources for Vietnamese football in the future. Overseas Vietnamese players who prove their capabilities can certainly advance further, aiming for higher leagues such as the First Division or V.League.

The 2026 National Second Division is expected to start in March and run until June 2026, featuring 14 teams nationwide. This competition is an important platform within the professional system, serving as a bridge to help clubs and young players gain experience before pursuing higher goals.

Among the 14 teams, 9 clubs will continue from the 2025 season including: Dak Lak, Can Tho, Lam Dong, Quang Ngai, PVF, Tay Ninh, Hanoi Youth, Da Nang Youth, and Vinh Long. These teams have stable development foundations and aim to compete for promotion.

Additionally, the tournament welcomes Hue, a team recently relegated from the 2024/2025 National First Division, along with 4 promoted teams from the 2025 Third Division: Phu Dong Youth, CAHN Youth, Ha Tinh Youth, and Gia Dinh.

Regarding the competition format, the 14 clubs will be divided into 2 groups based on geographic location and registered stadiums. Teams will play round-robin matches to determine rankings. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals.

In the semifinals, teams will compete for three promotion spots to the 2026/2027 National First Division. This means the race will be fierce, as only those clubs with the best preparation in terms of skills, personnel, and tactics can achieve this goal.