The 2025/26 V-League concludes: Tears for Becamex TPHCM, joy for The Cong Viettel

The 2025/26 V-League season ended with mixed feelings on every pitch. The Cong Viettel claimed the second-place finish by triumphing in the capital city derby, whereas Becamex TP. HCM, even with a last-game win, still received a ticket down to the lower division.

The survival race and the battle for top positions created a dramatic final round. As the final whistle blew, the overall picture of the season was finally completed. The championship had already been secured by Cong An Ha Noi, but behind them was a fierce competition for the runner-up spot and a tense relegation fight.

Becamex TP. HCM wins but still says goodbye to the V-League

The focus of the final round was on the survival showdown among SHB Da Nang, PVF-CAND, and Becamex TP. HCM.

At home, Becamex TP. HCM did everything they could. The team from Thu Duc took the lead twice against Hoang Anh Gia Lai thanks to goals from Bui Vi Hao and Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong, before sealing a 3-1 victory with a strike from Oduenyi. However, the joy of winning could not keep them in the V-League. The reason: all their rivals also won their matches.

In other simultaneous matches, SHB Da Nang delivered a crushing 4-0 defeat to Dong A Thanh Hoa, while PVF-CAND also convincingly beat Song Lam Nghe An 3-1 away. These results prevented Becamex TP. HCM from improving their position on the table due to inferior head-to-head records. The Thu Duc team had to reluctantly accept direct relegation.

This is a regrettable ending for a club that was once a powerhouse in Vietnamese football for many years. Winning the last match only deepened their sorrow, as their fate was no longer in their hands. Meanwhile, PVF-CAND, though unable to avoid direct relegation, still earned the right to play a playoff match against Bac Ninh FC for the final spot in next season's V-League.

The Cong Viettel claims the runner-up position with great composure

If the relegation battle was exciting at the bottom of the table, the race for the runner-up spot was equally thrilling. Before the final round, both The Cong Viettel and Ninh Binh still had a chance to finish second. The advantage belonged to the army-backed team, as they had their destiny in their own hands.

In the Hanoi derby against the newly crowned champions Cong An Ha Noi, The Cong Viettel showed their mettle at the right moment. A goal from Nguyen Duc Hoang Minh in the first half gave the army team a narrow 1-0 victory over the champions. Those precious three points allowed The Cong Viettel to secure the final second-place finish without needing to care about the result in Ninh Binh.

That made Ninh Binh's 3-0 win over Hong Linh Ha Tinh insufficient. The ancient capital team ended the season in third place, even though they had put tremendous pressure on The Cong Viettel in the latter part of the campaign.

With the runner-up spot, The Cong Viettel can be satisfied with a stable and competitive season, while also affirming their strong return to the top group of Vietnamese football. They will earn a place in next season's AFC Champions League Two.

Outstanding individual highlights

Alongside the team battles, the 2025/26 V-League also recognized outstanding performances at the individual level.

The Golden Boot award went to Alan Grafite with 16 goals. The Brazilian striker maintained a consistent scoring rate throughout the season and became the league's most effective marksman. His tally far outstripped those of his nearest rivals, such as Lucao do Break (The Cong Viettel), Do Hoang Hen (Ha Noi FC), and Milan Makaric (SHB Da Nang) — all with 11 goals. Meanwhile, Dinh Bac was the highest-scoring Vietnamese player with 10 goals.

Alan Grafite and Van Viet are the top scorer and best goalkeeper of this V-League season. Photo: CAHN FC and The Cong Viettel FC

In the goalkeeping department, Nguyen Van Viet of The Cong Viettel was named the Best Goalkeeper of the season. The Nghe An-born custodian kept 12 clean sheets, making a crucial contribution to his team's runner-up finish. Van Viet's record surpassed that of Dang Van Lam (Ninh Binh) and Nguyen Thanh Tung (Hong Linh Ha Tinh), who each kept 10 clean sheets.

A season full of twists has ended, but the emotions generated by the final round will surely be remembered as one of the most dramatic conclusions the V-League has seen in many years.