2026-2027 National Cup: Four V-League Sides Stumble Against First Division Opponents

Last weekend, the qualifying round of the 2026-2027 National Cup produced one of the most surprising moments in Vietnamese football. Eight matches were played over two days; four V-League clubs were eliminated, and three of those defeats happened at home. On the surface, it looks like a shock. But if we look at how clubs prepared, financially and in terms of squad strength, everything has an explanation. Among the V-League representatives, only Bac Ninh avoided defeat, beating Long An 3-2 away. The other four all lost. Thanh Hoa, Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Hai Phong fell at home, while Hong Linh Ha Tinh lost on penalties at Phu Tho. Thanh Hoa lost 0-2 to Becamex TP.HCM, a team recently relegated to the First Division and viewed as a strong promotion candidate. The home side had more possession but lacked sharpness. The two goals conceded reflected the real gap in squad condition at this stage. Hoang Anh Gia Lai lost 2-3 to Hung Yen at Quy Nhon because their usual home, Pleiku Stadium, is being renovated due to poor drainage in heavy rain. Without familiar home support, HAGL fell behind 1-3 from the 77th minute. A penalty at 90+4 made it 2-3, but it was too late. Hai Phong lost 0-1 at home to Can Tho Steel, a club that recently moved from Quang Ninh to Can Tho. New signing Thaileon scored the only goal in the first half. Hong Linh Ha Tinh drew 0-0 with Phu Tho and then lost 2-3 in the penalty shootout. For many V-League clubs, the National Cup is not the main battleground. Relegation survival is far more important. Thanh Hoa are the clearest example. Before the league started, they were unsure about their own existence. They now face an FIFA order to pay more than 305,000 USD, about 8 billion VND, to Rimario Gordon. If the case is not settled within 45 days from September 16, Thanh Hoa will be banned from registering new players for three transfer windows. Hoang Anh Gia Lai have also lost two consecutive V-League matches at the start of the season. Their squad is weaker than last season. For them, an early Cup exit may actually help them focus on relegation survival. Hai Phong and Hong Linh Ha Tinh started the season with one win and one loss, so their Cup defeats were not surprising. From my years of following Vietnamese football, these results are not accidents. They are the consequence of a system where clubs must balance results and costs. The Cup has become a place where lower-division teams can shine, but the value of those victories depends on whether the stronger sides genuinely tried. The next V-League round will show whether these early exits were a smart choice or a sign of deeper structural problems.