Vietnam Drops in Asia Ranking Due to CAHN's Defeat

The defeat of Hanoi Police FC at the AFC Champions League Two led to Vietnam slipping to 8th position in Asia on the AFC coefficient standings.

Hanoi Police FC’s (CAHN) elimination from the AFC Champions League Two not only ended the journey of a Vietnamese club on the continental stage but also brought significant consequences for the entire football system. According to the latest coefficient rankings released by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Vietnam officially dropped to 8th place in Asia, losing 7th position to Singapore.

The coefficient ranking is calculated by the AFC based on club performances over the last eight seasons. The further a team advances, the more points the country accumulates, which results in more slots allocated for continental competitions. Therefore, every match in Asian tournaments carries importance not just for the club but also directly affects the nation’s standing.

This season, Vietnam had two representatives in the AFC Champions League Two: CAHN and Nam Dinh. However, Nam Dinh was eliminated in the group stage, while CAHN exited in the round of 16 following a defeat against Tampines Rovers due to a sanction for fielding an ineligible player. This outcome caused Vietnam to lose crucial points in the coefficient race.

In this current season alone, Vietnam earned only 8.667 points, whereas Singapore accumulated 14.167 points. After eight seasons of accumulation, Vietnam’s total is 38.020 points, which is less than Singapore’s 38.561 points, resulting in Vietnam being overtaken. This gap could widen if Tampines Rovers continue to advance further in this year’s competition.

The pressure continues as Indonesia closely follows behind, while Thailand maintains its leading position in Southeast Asia with 59.971 points, ranking 7th in Asia. This disparity highlights that Vietnamese football risks falling further behind if club performances do not improve in upcoming seasons.

The drop in ranking not only affects reputation but also directly impacts the number of slots and the level of tournaments Vietnamese clubs can enter in the future. As the coefficient declines, chances to participate in top-tier competitions like the AFC Champions League Elite become more remote, posing a long-term challenge for Vietnam’s football development strategy and competitiveness on the continental stage.