Ninh Bình and Ho Chi Minh City Police write a 'fairy tale' story

The 2025/26 National Cup will see a unique final with two sides that were never viewed as leading candidates—Ninh Bình and Ho Chi Minh City Police—making the cut after a remarkable late surge.

Interestingly, both teams have thrived under new head coaches and have remained unbeaten since taking charge.

A final of dramatic transformations, where coach Kim Sang Sik will surely pay close attention to several players who could rejuvenate the Vietnam national team.

If before the season anyone had predicted the 2025/26 National Cup final would be a clash betweenNinh BìnhandHo Chi Minh City Police, few would have believed it.

Yet football is always captivating because of surprises, and after a convincing journey, the two teams with the best form at the end of the season deserve to be in the final showdown.

Notably, Ninh Bình and Ho Chi Minh City Police are not only similar in their professional success but also share many common traits in their strong breakthroughs during the decisive phase.

Both teams changed coaches in the final rounds of the V-League and immediately saw positive effects. At Ninh Bình,Coach Chu Đình Nghiêmarrived, bringing stability and experience from a manager who has won multiple domestic titles. In a short time, he turned a star-studded but disjointed squad into a smooth-running machine.

Since Mr. Nghiêm took over, Ninh Bình has won all three matches, scoring nine goals and conceding just one. Ninh Bình beat Hà Nội FC to claim the V-League 2025/26 bronze medal. The highlight was a 4-1 victory over Thể Công Viettel in the National Cup semifinal on June 11, a match seen as an 'early final' of the tournament.

If Ninh Bình impresses with solidity and efficiency, Ho Chi Minh City Police amazed fans with a mental transformation. When coach Phùng Thanh Phương replaced coach Lê Huỳnh Đức, few thought the team could go this far.

But through his approachable style and ability to connect the dressing room, he helped Ho Chi Minh City Police become one of the most watchable teams at the end of the season.

From mid-table, the team surged to finish in the V-League top five, then caused a shock by defeating Nam Định 4-2 at Thiên Trường to reach the National Cup final for the first time. More importantly, Ho Chi Minh City Police have not lost a single match under coach Phùng Thanh Phương.

Another common point between the two sides is the explosion of foreign players under the new coaches. At Ninh Bình, Friday has become a real phenomenon. Against Thể Công Viettel, the foreign striker was involved in all four goals—three assists and one goal—constantly troubling the visitors' defense with his pace and intelligent movement.

UnderCoach Chu Đình Nghiêm, Friday is no longer isolated but placed in a system that maximizes his strengths.

On the other side,Ho Chi Minh City Policehave also witnessed a strong revival of their foreign core. Utzig and Matheus both scored, while Endrick and Peter worked tirelessly, creating space for their teammates.

That is why the upcoming final is not only a battle between two teams but also a tactical duel between two managers showcasing their strategic prowess at the season's end.