V-League and the 'unsurprising' matches

PVF-CAND easily overcame Hai Phong 3-1 on their home ground, while Becamex Ho Chi Minh City lost 1-2 in Hang Day on the day CAHN were crowned champions. Only SHB Da Nang's efforts proved fruitless as they let Ha Tinh escape with a draw. Nevertheless, this is not considered an "accident" for SHB Da Nang, because the team by the Han River still enjoys the strongest position in the race to stay up.

Following round 25, SHB Da Nang, Becamex Ho Chi Minh City, and PVF-CAND are all level on 21 points. Their fate—direct survival, a playoff spot, or outright relegation—will be decided in the final round one week later.

As Sports & Culture previously analyzed in earlier editions, the "grim reaper" did not arbitrarily knock on the door of the four‑time V‑League champion Becamex Ho Chi Minh City in the closing stages of this season. The instability has persisted since 2019, after the club's last National Cup triumph under coach Tran Minh Chien.

From young coach Nguyen Anh Duc to veterans Phan Thanh Hung, Le Huynh Duc, and then Hoang Anh Tuan—all major names—they came and went, with hardly any coach lasting more than two seasons. Interspersed were Nguyen Quoc Tuan, Lu Dinh Tuan, Nguyen Cong Manh, and most recently Ueno Nobuhiro, then Hien Vinh. Naturally, one cannot overlook the substitute experts always waiting in the wings: Nguyen Thanh Son and Dang Tran Chinh.

In just seven years (2019‑2026), the club from the land of Thu has replaced as many as 12 head coaches, not counting those brought back for second stints—a record that rivals Hanoi FC’s turnover over the same period.

Turmoil in the coaching box reflects underlying issues in club management, inevitably causing constant upheavals in both personnel and playing style. In V‑League’s 26‑year history, no club has ever won the title in a season marked by such frequent coaching changes.

Considering the nature of the relegation race—or more precisely, the scramble for the playoff berth—Becamex Ho Chi Minh City, though only hosting HAGL in the last round, theoretically holds a slight edge over PVF‑CAND, who must travel to Nghe An. In reality, however, that may not be true. Both PVF‑CAND and HAGL are regaining momentum after recent wins (most notably, HAGL beat Hanoi FC 3‑1) and are securing victories to maintain perfect points.

Notably, PVF‑CAND has taken six consecutive points and is likely to add another three after the final match against SLNA, finishing the season with 24 points. Their chances of entering the playoff (against Bac Ninh) and staying in V‑League next season are very high. Meanwhile, SHB Da Nang is almost certain to achieve the same goal as they return home to host Thanh Hoa (already safe), wrapping up the race with 24 points (likely 12th place). The remaining question mark belongs solely to Becamex Ho Chi Minh City.

If they drop points against HAGL, they will descend to the First Division next season. Even if they secure all three points against the team from the mountain town, Becamex Ho Chi Minh City would go to the playoffs but would very likely throw it away. This is not simply a financial issue after the merger; it is an internal problem within the club, as discussed above.

For whom the bell tolls, it is now apparent!