Japan abolishes draws, should Vietnam take note?

The J-League suggests removing draws, forcing teams into shootouts right after regulation time. This daring concept might offer a fresh approach for the V-League to boost drama and elevate the league’s standard.

The Japanese national championship (J-League) is making waves by doing away with draws, so every match now ends with a winner and a loser. This special tournament, called the Hyakunen Kousou League (translated as the 100-Year Vision League), will take place from February to June 2026.

The most notable feature of the Hyakunen Kousou League is the removal of draws in all matches during the main phase. Specifically, if two teams are tied after 90 minutes, they immediately proceed to a penalty shootout (no extra time) to determine the winner. The points system has also been redesigned:

• Win in 90 minutes: 3 points
• Lose in 90 minutes: 0 points
• Win via penalty shootout: 2 points
• Lose via penalty shootout: 1 point

A football revolution

This daring decision not only makes the J-League more exciting but could also spark a football revolution. Modern football revolves around statistics, data, and efficiency. Because of this, matches have become increasingly calculated, resulting in many dull and soporific games.

Several football legends such as Pique, Van Basten, and coach Wenger have called for or proposed changes to encourage teams to attack more or reduce the number of draws. The J-League experiment was also launched with this goal in mind.

If the J-League succeeds with this model, it could trigger a domino effect, forcing other football leagues to seriously reconsider their formats to preserve the sport’s appeal.

Should the V-League learn from this?

The V-League amid ongoing complaints about slow pace and lack of surprises in many matches, has good reasons to seriously observe this model.

When teams enter the field with no option to settle for a draw, extreme defensive tactics aimed at securing at least one point will disappear. More open and attacking play will improve match quality and the overall league, thereby attracting more spectators.

Moreover, frequent penalty shootouts will have a dual effect. Not only will they increase entertainment value, but they will also build mental toughness. Vietnamese football has often faltered due to fragile mentality. Training players through penalty shootouts could help them gain confidence and resilience in critical moments.

Of course, any reform must consider fairness and identity. But the J-League is reminding us that to make football more thrilling, sometimes we must dare to change what seems immutable.