Ho Chi Minh City Police FC is an 'unknown quantity' in the 2026/27 V-League.

The signing of overseas coach Diles Arthur, forward Phan Van Duc, and numerous new imports indicates that Ho Chi Minh City Police FC is rapidly strengthening its roster for the 2026/27 season.

After a successful season winning the National Cup, Ho Chi Minh City Police FC is sending a clear message: they not only want to compete in the V-League but also aim to become a new powerhouse in Vietnamese football.

In just a short period of preparation for the new season,Ho Chi Minh City Police FChas continuously made notable moves.

From appointing Australian coach Diles Athanasios Arthur, ruthlessly offloading up to 10 players, parting ways with all former foreign players, to signing names like former Vietnam national team striker Phan Van Duc, this club is undergoing a nearly comprehensive overhaul.

Although Van Duc is no longer at his peak like during his time with the Vietnam national team under coach Park Hang Seo, the Nghe An-born forward remains one of the most experienced domestic players with valuable professional qualities.

Winning the 2025/26 V-League title withCong An Ha Noiis a positive highlight in the career of the now 30-year-old player. Van Duc will partner with Tien Linh, promising to complement each other and form an attacking duo for the club next season.

However, the ambition of Ho Chi Minh City Police FC clearly does not stop there. The club is expected to bring in at least four new foreign players, along with reports of negotiations with Australian center-back Lachlan Jackson, showing that the management is investing heavily. A center-back standing 1.96m tall, who has played in the A-League, if he arrives at Thong Nhat Stadium, will significantly upgrade the defense.

That is also understandable, as the 2026/27 season will be extremely tough for Ho Chi Minh City Police FC. Besides the V-League and National Cup, the club also must compete in the ASEAN Club Championship. The dense schedule requires the team not only to have a strong starting lineup but also sufficient squad depth.

Although Coach Diles Arthur has extensive experience in Australia, he is still new to the Vietnamese football environment. His ability to adapt, build a playing style, and manage the dressing room will be significant challenges for this tactician. Mr. Arthur is set for an intriguing clash with his compatriot Harry Kewell, who is currently coaching Hanoi FC.

Ho Chi Minh City Police FCalso facilitates the new coach's work by bringing in assistants who are familiar with him.

If the rebuilding process goes according to plan, the Thong Nhat Stadium team aims to compete for the top group of the V-League, and even create a new balance of power with forces such as Cong An Ha Noi, The Cong Viettel, Ninh Binh, and Nam Dinh.