CAND FC Restructures for V.League: PVF-CAND Youth Academy Transferred to Hung Yen FC

On the morning of August 15, 2026, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Public Security held a ceremony to announce the decision to transfer the PVF-CAND youth football training center to Hung Yen FC, while also announcing the restructuring plan for CAND FC towards the goal of promotion to V.League for the 2026/27 season. The ceremony was attended by Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang, Chairman of CAND FC – Major General Duong Duc Hai, along with VFF representatives and leaders of Hung Yen province. Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Luong Tam Quang emphasized the requirement for CAND FC to develop "worthy of its name," not only stopping at promotion to V.League but also aiming for regional and continental ambitions. The Minister also acknowledged the club's contributions to the success of the Vietnam National Team at the ASEAN Cup 2026, while requiring the club to continue being a source of high-quality personnel for the national team. From a professional standpoint, the CAND FC coaching staff has identified a development strategy based on continuity of the current coaching team, combined with squad reinforcement through new contracts. The club announced three notable new signings: goalkeeper Dinh Trieu, naturalized striker Viktor Le, and attacking midfielder Minh Vuong. All three are expected to play important roles in the new tactical system, especially in the goalkeeper and attacking positions – two positions considered crucial for the promotion goal. The strategic highlight of the 2026/27 season is the great expectation placed on young players Ly Duc, Thanh Nhan, and Minh Phuc. All three are products of the PVF-CAND training system, highly rated by the coaching staff for their ability and development potential. Giving opportunities to these young players is seen as part of a long-term strategy to build a successor force while reducing dependence on foreign contracts. However, the decision to transfer the entire PVF-CAND youth training system to Hung Yen FC raises questions about the succession and development of human resources in the future. According to experts, this transfer is not simply a financial transaction but a strategic decision to restructure resources: keeping the youth training system in Hung Yen to develop into an independent training center, while CAND FC's first team focuses resources on the promotion goal. From a financial perspective, CAND FC has a significant advantage over private clubs thanks to the backing of the Ministry of Public Security. This helps the club minimize budget risks, allowing focus on sporting objectives rather than facing commercial pressures. However, dependence on state budget also means the club must comply with national development orientations, including maintaining its role as a training center for the national team. A notable point in CAND FC's strategy is setting the goal of promotion to V.League immediately in the 2026/27 season. This is an ambitious goal, requiring the club not only to have a strong squad but also a flexible tactical system to adapt to a more demanding competitive environment. Compared to direct competitors in the First Division, CAND FC has advantages in finance and facilities, but the gap in professional standards between the two divisions is not small. In terms of governance, the stability of the leadership and the backing from the Ministry of Public Security are seen as key factors helping CAND FC minimize risks. Chairman Duong Duc Hai affirmed his commitment to seriously implementing the Minister's directives while building a professional, modern, and sustainable environment. This stability also helps reduce pressure on the coaching staff, creating conditions for the development of young players. However, alongside the advantages, CAND FC also faces considerable challenges. Placing too much expectation on young players can create unnecessary pressure, while the integration of new signings always carries risks. If the promotion goal is not achieved, public and political pressure could affect the club's stability. Looking at the overall picture, CAND FC's restructuring decision reflects the trend of professionalization in Vietnamese football, where state-backed clubs are playing an increasingly important role. The transfer of the youth academy to Hung Yen FC also opens a new direction in youth football development, creating healthy competition between training centers. In that context, the question is whether CAND FC can overcome internal challenges to achieve the V.League promotion goal and sustainable development? Numbers don't lie, but those who read them must know how to listen. When the stadium is empty, cash flow speaks the loudest. With strong backing from the Ministry of Public Security and a clear development strategy, CAND FC has the potential to become a new force in Vietnamese football in the near future. From the Tokai region to the 2026 World Cup, a phone call taught me that the market never sleeps on data. Football is a game of emotions, but sports business operators must keep a cold heart. For CAND FC, everything is heading in the right direction – but only time and results on the pitch will be the ultimate measure of success.