After a four-year wait, The Cong Viettel officially returns to the continental stage.

By beating CAHN in the last matchday of the 2025/26 V.League, The Cong Viettel clinched the second-place spot and earned a return to the Asian arena following a four-year absence.

As the final round of the 2025/26 V.League came to a close, The Cong Viettel achieved their most crucial objective of the season by securing a 1-0 victory over CAHN, thereby officially finishing as runners-up. This result not only capped an impressive campaign under head coach Velizar Popov but also secured a ticket back to continental play after four years of waiting.

Before kickoff, the atmosphere at the stadium carried special significance as coach Velizar Popov proactively congratulated CAHN, the newly crowned V.League champions. That moment demonstrated mutual respect between two top clubs and reflected the professionalism of this season's title race.

Although a draw would have been enough to maintain their second-place position, The Cong Viettel entered the match with full determination against a strong opponent. Their proactive style of play made the difference, particularly in high-impact attacking moves that repeatedly unsettled CAHN's defense.

The turning point came from a fast-paced combination on the flank, where foreign player Paulinho created a clear opportunity. The ball then reached Nguyen Duc Hoang Minh in a favorable position, and the midfielder born in 1998 did not miss his chance to score the only goal of the match, beating goalkeeper Filip Nguyen.

Notably, this was Hoang Minh's first goal of the 2025/26 season, carrying special significance as a "redemption" following the red card he received in the previous match against Ninh Binh. That mistake had previously cost The Cong Viettel an advantage in the title race, but he made a timely return to help the army-backed team secure the runner-up finish.

Maintaining the 1-0 scoreline until the final whistle, The Cong Viettel officially ended the season in second place overall,earning a reward of 3 billion VND and a spot in the AFC Champions League Two. This marks the first time in four years that the army club has returned to continental competition, highlighting a significant step in their journey to assert themselves both domestically and internationally.