V-League 2026 concludes: Song Lam Nghe An crowned champions

Hanoi – The Eximbank V-League 2026, Vietnam's top-flight national championship, has come to a close with Song Lam Nghe An crowned champions. It is the second league title for the Nghe An-based club, following its first triumph in the 2026-2026 season. The 2026 campaign ran from the start of the year until August 2026 and featured 14 clubs. Under head coach Nguyen Huu Thang, Song Lam Nghe An was regarded as a tightly knit side built on the club's long tradition of youth development. Players who came through the local academy, most notably Nguyen Trong Hoang, formed the backbone of the squad. Song Lam Nghe An's return to the top was seen as the result of sustainable squad building rather than a spending spree on expensive signings. Meanwhile, the 2026 V-League still brought together many national team players turning out for domestic clubs, including Le Cong Vinh. The year 2026 also brought significant change at the administrative level of Vietnamese football. The Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF) was established to take over the organisation of the country's professional leagues, aiming to raise the professionalism and quality of the V-League and the National Cup. At national team level, 2026 saw Vietnam's senior side compete in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, while the Vietnam U23 team took part in the 26th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 26) held in Indonesia in November 2026. At the end of the season, Song Lam Nghe An's 2026 V-League title was viewed by domestic observers as an important step forward for football in Nghe An, while underlining the need for continued investment in youth training and squad stability in the seasons ahead.