Vietnamese football unexpectedly ranks behind Cambodia in the Asian club rankings.

Cambodian football once again overtakes Vietnam in the Asian club standings for the 2025/26 season.

According to data from Footy Rankings, representatives from the Angkor region have accumulated 8.725 points, temporarily holding the 14th position, placing above Vietnam (8.667 points, rank 15) along with some traditionally strong football nations like China, Uzbekistan, and Bahrain.

This achievement stems from the impressive performances of two clubs, Svay Rieng and Phnom Penh Crown, in the AFC Challenge League (Asia's C3 Cup). Both teams advanced through the group stage unbeaten before meeting early in the quarter-finals. Svay Rieng secured a 6-2 victory over two legs, then proceeded to defeat Manila Digger with a 4-1 aggregate score to earn a spot in the final.

Therefore, even though the C3 Cup has a lower coefficient point value compared to higher-tier competitions, deep progression still allows Cambodian clubs to accumulate significant points. Consequently, they not only improved their position but also surpassed many strong regional rivals.

Notably, this is not the first time Cambodian football has overtaken Vietnamese football in this ranking. In the 2023/24 season, Phnom Penh Crown made a mark by advancing past the group stage of the Asian C2 Cup, thereby helping the country's football surpass Vietnam in the club-level rankings.

From a position of frequent heavy defeats in continental competitions, Cambodian clubs have undergone significant transformation over the past four years. Systematic investment and the addition of quality foreign players are enhancing their competitive capabilities, allowing them to gradually affirm their standing and exert considerable pressure on Vietnamese football.