According to the list of participating clubs and the slot allocation structure for the 2026/27 season recently announced by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), CAHN will represent Vietnam in the AFC Champions League Elite play-off round. Head coach Mano Polking's side will face Australia's Adelaide United.

The play-off match will be held at Adelaide United's home ground on August 11. Under AFC regulations, the higher-seeded club earns hosting rights in the qualifying round. Seeding is determined by the AFC club competition rankings of member associations. In the East Region, Australia currently ranks fifth, while Vietnam sits seventh.

The match carries major significance for CAHN. The winner will secure a place in the group stage of the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27, Asia's premier club competition. If the Vietnamese side fail to overcome Adelaide United, they will still remain in continental competition by dropping into the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two.

Notably, the AFC Champions League Elite play-off coincides with the period when the Vietnam national team will be preparing for and competing in the ASEAN Cup 2026. With CAHN currently providing a significant number of national team players, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has stepped up coordination with the club to ensure the national team is fully prepared for the upcoming tournament. In its latest statement, CAHN affirmed that it would create the best possible conditions for its players to serve the national team.

For the 2026/27 season, Vietnamese football has been allocated two places in AFC club competitions. CAHN will compete in the AFC Champions League Elite play-off round, while The Cong Viettel have secured direct qualification to the group stage of the AFC Champions League Two.

Dai Nam