The draw for the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 placed Vietnam’s two representatives, Hanoi Police FC (CAHN) and Thep Xanh Nam Dinh, in challenging groups against strong regional rivals.

CAHN, making its continental debut, will compete in Group E alongside Beijing FC (China), Macarthur FC (Australia), and Tai Po FC (Hong Kong, China). The group is considered a tough test for the police football club.

Meanwhile, Thep Xanh Nam Dinh was drawn into Group F with Japanese powerhouse Gamba Osaka, Ratchaburi FC (Thailand), and Eastern FC (Hong Kong, China). Analysts say this is also a difficult group for coach Vu Hong Viet and his squad.

The group stage will follow a round-robin format with home and away matches, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage. Matches are scheduled to kick off on September 16 and conclude on December 24, 2025. The knockout stage will run from February 10 to February 19, 2026.

To prepare for the competition, both CAHN and Nam Dinh have made significant investments in their squads, particularly by strengthening their foreign player lineup.

 Dai Nam