2026-2027 National Cup qualifying: Four V-League clubs fall to First Division sides

The 2026-2027 National Cup qualifying round ended with a blunt message from the First Division. In eight matches over two days, four V-League clubs lost to First Division opponents, and three of those defeats came at home. Only Bac Ninh avoided disappointment, beating Long An 3-2 away. Thanh Hoa were the first to suffer. At home, the team lost 0-2 to Becamex Ho Chi Minh City. Becamex had just been relegated to the First Division, but their squad was not inferior to the home side. They played with more determination, took their chances well, and won without much trouble. Notably, Thanh Hoa entered the match with an unresolved financial worry. FIFA ordered the club to pay more than 305,000 USD, roughly 8 billion VND, to Jamaican striker Rimario Gordon after he filed a complaint with FIFA. If the case is not resolved within 45 days of receiving the document on September 16, Thanh Hoa will be banned from registering new players for three transfer windows. The dispute came from the era of the old sponsor, while the club has now been handed over to a new sponsor. As a result, Thanh Hoa must carry a debt they did not create, with an already thin squad due to a lack of money to keep key players or buy new ones. Hoang Anh Gia Lai also exited after losing 2-3 to Hung Yen. The mountain town side had to play at Quy Nhon instead of Pleiku because the Pleiku pitch was being renovated due to poor drainage during heavy rain. Without familiar home support, HAGL fell behind 3-1 from the 77th minute and only pulled one back from a penalty in the 90+4 minute. Coach Le Quang Trai had few solutions because this season's squad is weaker than last season's. A Hung Yen side full of winning desire delivered a memorable performance on their opponent's temporary ground. Hai Phong continued the losing streak. At home, the port city club lost 0-1 to Thep Can Tho. Can Tho had just moved from Quang Ninh to the western region and had lost their opening First Division match of 2026-2027. Still, they managed to score the only goal in the first half through striker Thaileon, who had only joined the team a few days earlier. This detail shows that reputation matters less than readiness. Hong Linh Ha Tinh, meanwhile, left the tournament after a penalty shootout. They drew 0-0 with Phu Tho in 90 minutes, then lost 2-3 on penalties. Although there were no goals, the match showed the First Division side were not afraid of their V-League opponents. It would be wrong to say these defeats were all down to luck. On the pitch, many First Division sides showed better preparation, especially in choosing the right moments to score. They did not just defend tightly; they also knew how to exploit their opponents' mistakes. That explains why three of the four V-League clubs fell at home, where the pressure to win often makes the bigger team lose patience. Those First Division teams did not arrive in the cup as trembling underdogs. They had confidence from a clear game plan and knew what to do against stronger teams. By contrast, some V-League clubs showed signs of complacency, allowing their opponents to take control early. Defeat, therefore, was not only about tactics but also about mentality and club management. Looking at the bigger picture, the priority list of many V-League clubs is easy to see. The National Cup is not the main playground for clubs without great ambition. Going deeper means higher travel costs, accommodation costs and more strain on the squad. Staying up in the V-League is far more important. Therefore, many teams approached the cup with indifference, giving First Division sides the chance to cause surprises through greater determination. Thanh Hoa were the clearest example of this survival-driven indifference. Only close to the start of the 2026-2027 V-League season did they know for sure they still existed. With a limited squad, tight finances, and the risk of a FIFA ban, losing to a Becamex Ho Chi Minh City side desperate to return to the V-League was understandable. For Hoang Anh Gia Lai, an early cup exit may actually be good. After two straight losses at the start of the 2026-2027 V-League, Le Quang Trai's side face a difficult relegation battle. With a weaker squad than last season, focusing their full energy on the league is a sensible choice. As for Hai Phong and Hong Linh Ha Tinh, despite a decent start to the season - one win and one loss each - an early cup exit was not surprising. It is how smaller clubs choose to survive a long campaign. The National Cup, therefore, exposes the mismatch in motivation. For First Division clubs, it is a chance to step into the spotlight. For V-League clubs, it is a matter of cost and survival. When goals differ, surprises are inevitable. The First Division has spoken loudly; the remaining question is whether V-League clubs will treat it as a warning big enough to change their mindset.