Where does Vietnam’s V-League stand on global football maps?

The 2026-27 V-League season will feature 14 clubs, the same number as last season, and run from September 2026 to May 2027.

In terms of size, the V-League has two fewer clubs than the Thai League and four fewer than the Indonesian Super League, but two more than the Malaysia Super League.

Low transfer value

The 2026-27 V-League promises to be an exciting and competitive season, with clubs actively strengthening their squads during the transfer window.

However, the league still trails other leading Southeast Asian competitions in terms of transfer market value.

Transfermarkt currently values the V-League at €49.77 million (US$57.76 million), based on the combined estimated value of all players in the competition.

It ranks behind the Malaysia Super League at €54.96 million ($63.78 million), the Thai League at €82.23 million ($95.43 million) and the Indonesian Super League at €89.2 million ($103.5 million).

The figures partly reflect the quality and transfer-market appeal of the players in each league, particularly the presence of foreign players.

However, Transfermarkt’s estimates alone cannot be used to conclude that the V-League is of lower quality than other regional competitions.

One reason for the V-League’s lower total transfer value is that Vietnamese clubs currently use fewer foreign players than teams in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The figures suggest that the V-League currently attracts less attention from the international transfer market than its regional rivals. This is an area the league needs to improve in the coming years.

How competitive is the V-League?

Experts said a league’s appeal depends heavily on the quality of its teams, competitiveness and ability to attract and engage fans.

According to ASEAN Football, at least four teams — The Cong-Viettel, Ha Noi Police, Ha Noi and Thep Xanh Nam Dinh — are expected to compete for the 2026-27 title, more than in any other leading Southeast Asian league.

By contrast, only one or two clubs are considered strong enough to challenge for the title in Indonesia and Thailand. The Malaysia Super League, meanwhile, remains dominated by Johor Darul Ta'zim.

Despite its lower market value, the V-League can therefore match its regional rivals in terms of competitiveness and entertainment.

The league’s image and profile have also improved in recent years. More fans are attending matches, while the organization of competitions, which had previously been considered weaker than in some neighboring countries, has noticeably improved.

On the global stage, the V-League is not currently among the top 105 domestic leagues in the latest ranking released by Global Football Ranking on September 2.

The top flights of Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand are also outside the top 105.

In the Footy Ranking table covering Asian Football Confederation members, the Thai League is currently the highest-ranked Southeast Asian league, sitting seventh overall. Malaysia ranks 11th, Singapore 14th and Vietnam 15th.

The ranking is based on the performance of clubs from each domestic league in Asian competitions.

Vietnamese clubs have not placed as much emphasis on continental club competitions in recent years, contributing to the country’s relatively low ranking.

By contrast, clubs from Malaysia and Thailand have enjoyed a series of strong results in Asia.

That could change in the coming years as Vietnamese clubs invest more heavily in continental competitions.

Recently, Ha Noi Police defeated Australia’s Adelaide United to secure a place in the AFC Champions League Elite, Asia’s top club competition.

If Ha Noi Police and The Cong-Viettel perform well this season, with the latter competing in the AFC Champions League Two, the V-League could rise in the rankings.

Southeast Asia’s domestic leagues still rely heavily on club owners and businesses for financial support and have yet to establish an ideal model in which football generates enough revenue to sustain itself.

Over the years, clubs across Southeast Asia have actively studied different football business models to build more sustainable operations.

However, a fully self-sustaining football ecosystem remains a distant goal for clubs in the region, including those in Vietnam.