Vietnamese football reaches an unprecedented milestone after 14 years.

For the first time in 14 years, the National First Division will feature 14 clubs, equaling the V.League's team count in the 2026/27 season.

Professional Vietnamese football will witness a special milestone in the 2026/27 season as the First Division officially returns with 14 clubs after a 14-year wait. This is also the first time since 2012 that the number of teams in the First Division equals that of the V.League, creating a larger and more competitive competition system than ever before.

According to the regulations for the 2025/26 season, the V.League has 1.5 relegation spots, while the First Division has 1.5 promotion spots and one relegation spot. Thanks to this rotational mechanism, the 2026/27 national professional season will feature a total of 28 clubs, including 14 teams in the V.League and 14 in the First Division.

In the 2026/27 V.League, 12 teams continue from the previous season: the previous season, including Cong An Ha Noi, The Cong Viettel, Ninh Binh, Ha Noi, Cong An TP.HCM, Nam Dinh, Hai Phong, Ha Tinh, SLNA, HAGL, Thanh Hoa, and Da Nang. In addition, Dong Nai, as the First Division champions, champions of the First Division, and Bac Ninh, after winning the playoff match, have earned the right to play in the highest tier of Vietnamese football.

On the other hand, the First Division also welcomes several new faces. In addition to familiar teams such as PVF-CAND, TP.HCM, Khanh Hoa, and Hoa, or Dong Thap, the tournament also includes three newcomers from the Second Division: Tre Ha Noi, Hue, and Lam Dong. The arrival of these ambitious teams promises to create exciting competition at both ends of the standings.

Since Vietnamese football entered its professional era in the 2000/01 season, the V.League has largely remained stable with 14 teams. Meanwhile, the First Division has seen many fluctuations in team numbers, at one point having only 7 or 8 clubs. Therefore, the league Therefore, returning to the 14-team mark after more than a decade holds special significance for the development of domestic professional football.

According to the planned schedule, the 2026/27 season will kick off with the National Super Cup on August 30. The V.League starts on September 4, the First Division begins on September 11, and the National Cup runs from November 6. With a system of 28 professional clubs and an even scale between the top two divisions, Vietnamese football is expected to enter a new phase of development full of competition and excitement.