V-League 2026/27: Fierce Relegation Battle with 2 Direct Relegation Spots

The 2026/27 V-League season officially kicks off with a major change in the format: the number of direct relegation spots increases to 2, with no play-off match. This means the relegation battle will be fiercer than ever, and from the very first rounds, several clubs are already considered prime candidates for the ticket to the First Division next season.

Pressure from the new format

Eliminating the play-off means no last chance for the 13th or 14th-placed teams. The bottom two teams in the standings will be relegated directly, putting immense pressure on clubs with limited financial resources and thin squads. This decision aims to increase competitiveness, but also poses a difficult problem for teams without deep experience.

SLNA – Difficult start with young squad

Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) is one of the clubs that suffered heavy losses in the summer transfer window. Despite having a new sponsor, the team from Nghe An could not keep key players such as Michael Olaha, Carlos Fortes, Ngo Van Luong and Vuong Van Huy. These are experienced players who played important roles in SLNA's gameplay in previous seasons.

Coach Van Sy Son shared: 'The pressure on us is huge as the squad is young and financial resources are limited. Some foreign players also need time to adapt to the V-League. Therefore, the whole team must prepare well, help the new players quickly integrate and try to earn points in every match.'

SLNA starts the season with a home match against newcomer Bac Ninh in round 1, scheduled for September 6 at Vinh Stadium. This match is considered a 'relegation final' as both are among the highest-risk teams.

Bac Ninh – Ambitious newcomer but lacks experience

Bac Ninh is a newly promoted team to the V-League this season. The team from Kinh Bac region has made thorough preparations with a series of quality contracts: saying goodbye to Huynh Tuan Linh, Truong Van Thiet and Ha Duc Chinh, while recruiting Pierre Lamothe, Luong Hoang Nam, Le Tien Anh, overseas Vietnamese midfielder Minh-Kai, Le Van Xuan, Vu Tien Long, goalkeeper Nguyen Van Cong... In addition, Bac Ninh also invested heavily in foreign players with three Brazilians, notably midfielder Vitao and striker Brenner Marlos.

However, Bac Ninh's squad is not outstanding compared to the overall V-League level. The lack of experience in the top flight is a major disadvantage. If they fail to accumulate necessary points in the early stage, Hai Huy and his teammates will face many difficulties in the relegation race.

Dong Nai – Heavily dependent on Cong Phuong and coach Nguyen Viet Thang

Another newcomer, Dong Nai, also faces a challenging season. Making their debut in the V-League, the team from the Southeast region has invested heavily in its squad, but still relies heavily on the form of Cong Phuong – a star past his prime – and the coaching talent of Nguyen Viet Thang. If Cong Phuong cannot maintain his fitness and scoring touch, Dong Nai will find it very difficult to survive.

Thanh Hoa and HAGL – 'Big clubs' with hidden risks

Despite many years in the V-League, Thanh Hoa and HAGL still face difficulties in squad depth and finances. Thanh Hoa was once an ambitious club, but inconsistent investment strategy often leaves them scrambling in the bottom half. HAGL, with its proven youth development philosophy, still struggles to retain stars and find quality foreign players. Both teams need to focus on each match, especially direct confrontations with their main rivals in the relegation race.

Predictions for a dramatic race

With the new format, the V-League 2026/27 relegation race promises to be extremely dramatic. Teams like SLNA, Bac Ninh, and Dong Nai are predicted to face the most difficulties, but surprises from financially stable clubs cannot be ruled out. If Thanh Hoa and HAGL fail to find stability soon, they could easily fall into the relegation vortex.

The early-season matches will be a crucial yardstick, helping to clarify the landscape of the race. Fans are eagerly awaiting emotional and surprising performances from the underdogs, who will fight to the end to protect their spot in Vietnam's top league.