National Cup 2026-2027: Four V-League defeats and the real picture of the relegation battle

The first qualifying round of the 2026-2027 Vietnamese National Cup produced one of the defining statements of this football season. On September 19 and 20, 2026, four V-League clubs lost to teams from the lower division. Three of those defeats happened at home. Thanh Hoa lost 0-2 to Becamex TP.HCM. Hoang Anh Gia Lai lost 2-3 to Hung Yen in Quy Nhon. Hai Phong lost 0-1 to Thep Can Tho, and Hong Linh Ha Tinh lost on penalties 2-3 after a goalless draw with Phu Tho. Only Bac Ninh, a V-League side, managed to beat a first-division team, winning 3-2 away to Long An. The results were not random. They reflect financial pressure, squad depth problems and the strategic choices of clubs fighting for survival. Thanh Hoa, for example, is dealing with a FIFA order to pay more than 305,000 USD to Rimario Gordon. The former player filed a complaint against the club, which now has 45 days to settle the matter or face a transfer ban for three windows. That uncertainty affected their preparation and explained part of their passive performance. Hoang Anh Gia Lai were playing without their usual home advantage because Pleiku is being renovated. They struggled against Hung Yen, conceded three times and only managed a late 2-3 consolation goal from the penalty spot in stoppage time. Hai Phong were caught off guard by Thaileon, a forward who joined Thep Can Tho only a few days before the match. Hong Linh Ha Tinh controlled possession but could not break down a disciplined Phu Tho side, eventually losing in the shootout. This is not simply a story of an upset. It is a structural lesson. For many V-League clubs, the league campaign is far more important than the cup. Every cup match creates extra travel costs, recovery time and injury risks. Lower-division clubs, however, enter these matches with nothing to lose and everything to prove. They play with higher intensity and tactical discipline, waiting for their opponent to make mistakes. In a short tournament, that kind of mentality can carry a team into the next round. Bac Ninh proved that preparation and respect for the cup still matter. They showed the composure needed to win an away match against Long An. The first round of the 2026-2027 National Cup is a warning. V-League clubs cannot treat this competition as a distraction if they do not have the squad, finances and mental readiness to compete on multiple fronts. The cup may not bring the same prize money as the league, but it remains a measure of a club's culture. As I have learned from tracking this competition for years, form can change quickly, but commitment is visible every time a team crosses the white line.