Race for promotion to top Vietnamese football league intensifies

The race for promotion to Vietnam's top football league is heating up as the National First Division season enters its decisive phase. Matchday 14, scheduled for June 7, will determine which teams secure a coveted spot in the 2026-2027 season.

In Group B, Quảng Ngãi FC and Trường Giang Gia Định are locked in a tight battle, both holding 21 points after 11 rounds. They will face each other in a critical match in Quảng Ngãi, where a win is essential for Quảng Ngãi to guarantee a place in the promotion playoff final. A draw could significantly disadvantage them, especially if they lose on head-to-head tiebreakers.

Lâm Đồng FC currently leads Group B with 22 points, securing at least a spot in the final playoff even if they lose their final match. The scenario where both Quảng Ngãi and Trường Giang Gia Định draw, and Lâm Đồng also loses, would result in all three teams having 22 points. In such a case, tiebreakers would place Lâm Đồng first, Trường Giang Gia Định second, and Quảng Ngãi third, keeping them in the second division.

Despite the challenging situation, Quảng Ngãi's players and coach Đào Văn Phong are determined to secure the win and are rallying fans for support. Meanwhile, Group A's top two spots have already been claimed by Hà Nội Youth FC (24 points) and Huế FC (22 points), who will advance to the final playoff round. The promotion playoff structure allows for three teams to move up to the top league, which will expand to 14 teams next season after Hòa Bình FC withdrew and Thanh Niên TP.HCM was relegated.