The 2026 National Second Division officially kicks off

The 2026 National Second Division officially began on the afternoon of March 24th with the opening matches in two groups.

On the afternoon of March 24th, the 2026 National Second Division football competition officially started with the initial matches in Groups A and B. The brief and solemn opening ceremonies held at the match venues created an exciting atmosphere, marking the beginning of the race for three promotion spots to the 2026/27 National First Division.

In his opening speech, representing the Vietnam Football Federation and the Organizing Committee, Mr. Nguyen Minh Chau emphasized that the National Second Division football competition plays a crucial role in the national football competition system. It serves as a bridge between levels, contributes to developing football movements in localities, and provides an environment for young players to train, mature, and prove their capabilities.

The 2026 season gathers 14 teams from various localities, training centers, and clubs across the country. Among them, nine teams continue to compete in the Second Division from the previous season: Dak Lak, Hoai Duc, Lam Dong, Quang Ngai (formerly Kon Tum), PVF, Tay Ninh, Hanoi Youth, SHB Da Nang Youth, and Vinh Long; Hue relegated from the 2024/25 National First Division; and four teams promoted from the 2025 National Third Division: Phu Dong Youth, Hanoi Police Youth, Ha Tinh Sports Training Center, and Truong Giang Gia Dinh.

According to the competition format, teams are divided into groups and play a double round-robin (home and away) in the qualifying stage to calculate points and rankings. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the final round. Here, the four best teams will compete in a knockout format to determine the three teams that earn promotion.

The qualifying round of the competition will take place from March 24th to June 7th, 2026, with the first leg from March 24th to April 25th and the second leg from May 6th to June 7th. The final round is scheduled from June 13th to June 16th, 2026.

With the active preparation of the teams, the 2026 National Second Division football competition is expected to deliver exciting matches with high professional quality, thereby continuing to affirm its role as a crucial launching pad for the development of Vietnamese football within the national competition system.

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