OFFICIAL: Southeast Asian Tournament Sees Historic Change, Vietnam Faces Challenges

Expanding the group stage from 12 to 14 teams makes it much harder for Vietnam's clubs in the 2026/2027 Shopee Cup tournament.

On the morning of June 5th in Jakarta, Indonesia, the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) held the draw for the group stage of the Southeast Asian Club Championship – the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup 2026/27. Vietnamese football has two representatives in the competition: Hanoi Police FC (2025/26 V.League champions) and the winner of the 2025/26 National Cup.

The 2026/27 Shopee Cup marks the third edition of the most prestigious club-level tournament in Southeast Asia. Following the success of the first two seasons, the event has been further expanded to include 14 teams—national league champions and domestic cup winners from across the region.

Last season's 2026/2027 Southeast Asian Club Championship had 12 teams, with 6 per group in the official phase, not counting the play-off round. Increasing the number to 7 teams per group while only allowing the top two from each group to advance to the semifinals will make the group stage even more competitive.

According to the draw results, Hanoi Police FC (Vietnam's 2025/26 V.League champion) is placed in Group B alongside Port FC (Thailand), Johor Darul Ta'zim (Malaysia), Lion City Sailors (Singapore), Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng (Cambodia), Persib Bandung (Indonesia), and the winner of Play-off 2.

Vietnam's second representative, the 2025/26 National Cup winner, is placed in Group A alongside defending Shopee Cup champion Buriram United, Ratchaburi FC (Thailand), Kuching City FC (Malaysia), Tampines Rovers FC (Singapore), Borneo FC (Indonesia), and the winner of Play-off 1.

Group B is considered a huge challenge for Hanoi Police FC as it brings together many top national champions from the region. Meanwhile, Group A also promises to be no less difficult with the presence of Buriram United, the team that just won the 2025/26 Shopee Cup by defeating Selangor FC in the final.

According to the schedule, the play-off round will be held in a home-and-away format on August 8 and August 15, 2026. The group stage of the 2026/27 Shopee Cup is expected to begin in August. After the group stage, the top four teams from each group will qualify for the quarterfinals.