Ho Chi Minh City football teams undergo name changes

Ho Chi Minh City FC will become Cong An TP HCM, Ba Ria - Vung Tau will be TP HCM, and Binh Duong will be renamed Becamex TP HCM.

The Vietnam Football Federation approved this proposal on the afternoon of 14/7, before the V-League 2025-2026 draw ceremony in Hanoi.

The adjustments stem from the merger of Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau into Ho Chi Minh City, resulting in the new locality having 6 professional football teams. Besides Binh Duong and TP HCM competing in the V-League, the four remaining teams in the First Division are Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Tre TP HCM, Van Hien University, and Gia Dinh FC.

Ho Chi Minh City FC is renamed Cong An TP HCM. Photo: Cao Toan

Ho Chi Minh City FC is renamed Cong An TP HCM. Photo: Cao Toan

Ho Chi Minh City FC, formerly known as Cang Sai Gon, was founded in 1975. In 2003, the team changed its name to Thep Mien Nam - Cang Sai Gon. The name Ho Chi Minh City FC was adopted in 2009 and remained until the end of the 2024-2025 season.

Ho Chi Minh City previously had a renowned team, Cong An TP HCM, established in 1978. This team was disbanded in 2002.

The Ba Ria - Vung Tau team, founded in 1991, has frequently competed in lower divisions and has never participated in the V-League.

Binh Duong, originally the Song Be football team (established in 1976), underwent decades of development and was renamed Becamex Binh Duong in 2002. After becoming Becamex TP HCM, they will compete in the V-League.

Therefore, next season, Ho Chi Minh City will host a derby between Cong An TP HCM and Becamex TP HCM in the V-League. Additionally, the V-League will witness a derby between Cong An TP HCM and Cong An Ha Noi.

Under the new regulations, the V-League 2025-2026 will have two direct relegation spots. Teams are also allowed to increase their foreign players from three to four per match, with three on the field and one substitute. If the defending V-League champion Nam Dinh and the current National Cup holder Cong An Ha Noi participate in the AFC Champions League Two and the Southeast Asian Club Cup, they can register up to seven foreign players. However, the number of players participating in each match remains at four, with three on the field and one substitute.

The First Division 2025-2026 also permits each team to register one foreign player. Each V-League and First Division team can register two overseas Vietnamese players without Vietnamese citizenship and one naturalized player of foreign origin, such as Nguyen Xuan Son.

The new season kicks off on 9/8 with the National Super Cup match. The V-League will commence on 15/8.