AFC has made a crucial decision, placing CAHN before a major challenge in Asia.

Hanoi Police FC will travel to Adelaide United's ground on August 11 for the playoff match to qualify for the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite group stage.

Hanoi Police FC is set to enter a vital playoff match for a place in the group stage of the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite, as they will play away against Adelaide United (Australia) on August 11. This is seen as a significant challenge for the Vietnamese representative right from the first qualifying round of Asia's most prestigious club competition.

According to the list and slot allocation announced by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Hanoi Police FC is the only Vietnamese representative in the AFC Champions League Elite playoff round for the 2026/27 season. Their opponent, Adelaide United, is a team from the A-League and is considered to have an edge due to home advantage and a higher regional ranking.

The match being held in Australia stems from AFC regulations on seeding. In the Eastern region, Australia currently ranks above Vietnam, giving Adelaide United the upper hand and the right to host the decisive match. This makes Hanoi Police FC's task of securing a group stage spot significantly more difficult.

The nature of the match is do-or-die, as the winner will officially enter the group stage of the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite, the highest level of club competition in Asia. Meanwhile, the losing team will still have a chance to continue in the AFC Champions League Two, the continent's second-tier tournament.

Notably, the timing of the playoff coincides with the period when the Vietnam national team gathers to prepare for the 2026 ASEAN Cup. This complicates the personnel situation, as Hanoi Police FC currently has many players who are called up to the national team, requiring close coordination between the parties to ensure mutual interests.

For the 2026/27 season, Vietnamese football has two slots in Asian cups. In addition to Hanoi Police FC competing in the AFC Champions League Elite playoff, The Cong Viettel will directly participate in the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two. With its current regional ranking, Vietnamese football continues to maintain its position among the leading East Asian football nations, but also faces increasing competitive pressure.