Hanoi FC accumulated 46 points after 26 rounds. This point tally is not low in V-League history, as the team has previously won championships and consistently placed among the top three with similar or even fewer points.

This season, however, Hanoi FC trailed Ninh Binh by 5 points, runner-up The Cong by 8 points, and champion Cong an Ha Noi (CAHN) by 18 points. This marks the second time Hanoi FC has finished fourth, the first being in its debut V-League season in 2009. In between, the club secured 6 championships, 7 runner-up titles, and two bronze medals.

Midfielder Nguyen Hai Long (left) vies for the ball with midfielder Vo Huu Viet Hoang during Hanoi FC's 1-1 draw with Cong an TP HCM in V-League 2025-2026 round 26, at Hang Day Stadium in Hanoi, on 7/6/2026. *Photo: Hoang Huynh*

Before round 26, Hanoi FC had lost control of their fate, trailing third-placed Ninh Binh by 3 points. Consequently, the team needed to defeat Cong an TP HCM (CA TP HCM) and hope Ninh Binh lost to Ha Tinh in their concurrent match.

However, neither the necessary nor the sufficient conditions materialized. At Ha Tinh Stadium, Ninh Binh continued its resurgence under new head coach Chu Dinh Nghiem, securing a 3-0 victory against the hosts with second-half goals from Fred Friday, Pham Gia Hung, and Tran Bao Toan.

At Hang Day, Hanoi FC exerted intense pressure on the CA TP HCM goal and opened the scoring early in the 12th minute. Following a cross into the penalty area, Nguyen Van Quyet headed the ball to David Fisher for a close-range shot. Goalkeeper Le Giang Patrik made a brilliant save but was powerless against the English foreign player's rebound.

Numerous promising opportunities followed, but the hosts squandered them. In the 71st minute, a turning point occurred when Hanoi FC was reduced to ten men. Nguyen Cong Nhat received a direct red card for a foul from behind, preventing a goal-scoring opportunity as Bui Ngoc Long was about to break into the penalty area to face the goalkeeper.

Subsequently, the home team focused on defensive counter-attacks but remained unlucky. In the 81st minute, facing an open goal, Daniel Passira struck the ball, which bounced off the ground and hit the crossbar. Five minutes later, from their most dangerous attack of the match, CA TP HCM equalized with a close-range tap-in from Nguyen Tien Linh.

Falling outside the V-League top 3 for the first time in 17 years was unwelcome news just before Hanoi FC's 20th anniversary celebration. The only consolation was that CAHN also stumbled, losing 0-1 to The Cong, thus failing to break Hanoi FC's 2018 record. Both teams now share the record for most wins (20), fewest losses (two), and most points (64) in a single season.

V-League 2025-2026 concluded with CAHN securing its second championship in the last four seasons. The Cong finished second—its highest position since winning the title in 2020. Meanwhile, Ninh Binh achieved its highest-ever finish, placing third for the first time in its history.

Hieu Luong