This proposal was put forward by the Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF), the governing body for Vietnam's professional football leagues, in a document sent to clubs. The organization seeks feedback on adjusting the number of foreign players from the new season. This initiative aims to implement the Vietnam Football Federation's (VFF) policy of improving professional quality and increasing competitiveness in national professional tournaments.

Foreign players from Nam Dinh club (white jerseys) compete against Hai Phong in V-League 2025-2026, match day one, at Thien Truong Stadium, Ninh Binh. Duc Dong

According to the proposed adjustments, VPF outlined two significant changes to the foreign player quotas for different club categories, effective from the 2026-2027 season. For V-League clubs, the maximum number of registered foreign players will increase to five (currently four). Meanwhile, clubs participating in competitions organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) will be allowed to register up to eight foreign players, an increase from the current limit of seven.

Regulations concerning player registration and on-field usage during matches will also see notable changes. Clubs will be permitted to register a maximum of five foreign players and field a maximum of four at any given time. This means each category will increase by one player compared to current regulations.

This new proposal requires consensus from the clubs to be implemented. If approved, it could provide teams with more tactical options and strengthen their squads. It is also expected to help Vietnamese clubs enhance their quality and prepare thoroughly for regional and continental arenas.

However, this change could also lead to unfair competition due to the uneven financial capacities of different teams. For this reason, a similar request to modify the foreign player quota in matches, put forward by some V-League clubs, was not approved last July.