Many V-League clubs 'demand' more foreign players

On July 9, Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF) received a proposal from 7 V-League clubs about wanting to amend the regulations on the use of foreign players. These teams want to make the most of foreign player resources at all times on the field.

VPF will compile opinions and report to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) for consideration and direction as soon as possible. The results will be announced before the V-League 2025-2026 draw on July 14.

The VFF’s decision will also have a big impact on the development of Vietnamese football in the future. Adding foreign players will boost the expertise of the domestic league, but it also has side effects. Because adding 1 more foreign player on the field means taking away the opportunity to play for 1 domestic player.

In March this year, the 8th VFF Executive Committee Conference for the 2022-2026 term made changes to the regulations on the use of foreign players, increasing the number of foreign players registered in a match to 4, but only a maximum of 3 people can be used in a match.

Previously, from 2013 until now, VPF has kept the regulation of registering a maximum of 3 foreign players in 1 match.

This is not the first time V-League has changed its rules on foreign players since the Vietnam National Championship became professional. 2000 was the first year V-League teams hired foreign players, each team was allowed to register 5 "Westerners" in 1 match.

From 2001 to 2002, there were 7 "Westerners" registered, but then in 2003 it decreased to 4. From 2005 to 2010, the maximum number of foreign players was maintained at 5. In the 2011 season, the number of "Westerners" registered decreased again to 4.

The 2025-2026 season of Vietnamese football will start on August 9, with the National Super Cup match between Nam Dinh and Cong An Ha Noi. The V-League will start on August 15, and the First Division on September 19.