2026-2027 National Cup: Four V-League Representatives Stumble, Financial Fatigue Exposed

Vietnamese football had its loudest moment of the weekend when Thaileon, a striker who joined Can Tho Steel just days ago, scored the only goal to beat Hai Phong away. I watched the replay three times. On the third viewing, I saw more than an individual moment: I saw a first-division team that knew exactly what it needed. Eight matches in the 2026-2027 National Cup qualifying round produced a major shock: four V-League clubs were eliminated, three of them at home. Bac Ninh were the only exception, beating Long An 3-2 away. Thanh Hoa, Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Hai Phong and Hong Linh Ha Tinh all exited the competition. The losses were not purely tactical. For many V-League clubs with no title ambitions, the National Cup is not the main battleground. Progressing deeper means bigger travel costs, more squad rotation and greater physical strain, while staying in the V-League is far more important financially. First-division clubs, by contrast, treated the cup as a chance to prove themselves and push for promotion. Thanh Hoa lost 0-2 at home to Becamex TP.HCM. The newly relegated side were no weaker than their hosts and played with more determination. Thanh Hoa also carried the weight of a FIFA dispute. They were ordered to pay more than 305,000 USD, or about 8 billion VND, to Rimario Gordon after the Jamaican striker filed a claim. If the club fails to pay within 45 days of receiving the document on September 16, they will face a registration ban for three transfer windows. The case came from the old sponsor era, but the new sponsor must handle it. Hoang Anh Gia Lai lost 2-3 to Hung Yen in Quy Nhon. Their usual home, Pleiku Stadium, is under renovation because of poor drainage during heavy rain. Without familiar home support, the team struggled. They trailed 1-3 by the 77th minute, and a 90+4 penalty only made the score more respectable. HAGL have one of the weakest squads in recent years and are fighting to stay up, so an early cup exit may actually help them concentrate on the league. Hai Phong were beaten 0-1 by Can Tho Steel, a team that had just relocated from Quang Ninh to Can Tho and had lost their opening match in the first division. Thaileon scored the winner in the first half. Hong Linh Ha Tinh lost on penalties 2-3 to Phu Tho after a 0-0 draw in 90 minutes. The real story is not the upset. It is the gap in motivation. Many V-League clubs must choose their battles, and they are choosing survival. First-division clubs such as Becamex TP.HCM, Hung Yen, Can Tho Steel and Phu Tho are playing with hunger and a clear objective. The 2026-2027 National Cup is a reminder that in Vietnamese football, financial reality matters as much as tactics.