Vietnam's tournament receives unprecedented ruling in history

The 2026/2027 National Cup will see unprecedented changes, with the semifinal stage adopting a home-and-away format.

On the afternoon of March 26, 2026, at the Vietnam Football Federation Hall (Hanoi), Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF) held a conference to deploy preparatory work and organize the National Professional Football competitions for the 2026/27 season.

This season is expected to feature 14 Premier League clubs and 14 First Division clubs. Clubs not participating in international tournaments will play a minimum of 27 to a maximum of 33 matches, with an average frequency of about 6 days per match. Meanwhile, clubs competing in AFC and AFF international tournaments will play at least 32 matches and potentially up to 54 matches, increasing the match frequency to approximately 3–4 days per match.

Another notable highlight, expected to be implemented from the 2026/27 season, is that from the National Cup semifinal round, teams will compete in a two-leg home-and-away format instead of a single knockout match as currently. This promises to enhance professional appeal and attract more spectators.

The proposed competition schedule framework for the 2026/27 season has been presented and discussed, with key timelines as follows:

• National Super Cup match: Scheduled to be held on August 30, 2026.
• National Championship: Expected to commence on September 4, 2026 and conclude on May 22, 2027.
• National First Division: Expected from September 11, 2026 to May 16, 2027.
• National Cup: Expected from November 6, 2026 to May 30, 2027.

The club competition schedule for the upcoming season is meticulously designed to ensure time allocation for National Teams to fulfill international duties. Based on the competition plan for the 2026/27 season, there will be 4 FIFA Days breaks and a break from mid-December 2026 to early February 2027 to accommodate important plans:

• National Team training camp: Preparation for the Asian Cup from mid-December 2026.
• AFC Asian Cup 2027: Held in Saudi Arabia throughout January 2027.
• Lunar New Year holiday: Coinciding with the late January to early February 2027 period.

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