CAHN breaks an unprecedented milestone for Vietnamese football in the AFC Champions League.

CAHN etches its name in history as the first Vietnamese club to advance past the AFC Champions League play-off, joining the ranks of 8 teams that have competed in the group stage.

Hanoi Police Club (CAHN) has just achieved a special milestone by becoming the Vietnamese team to be the first in history to overcome the AFC Champions League play-off round. The 2-0 victory over Adelaide United in Australia on the evening of August 11 not only sends CAHN into the AFC Champions League Elite 2026-2027 group stage but also opens a new chapter for Vietnamese football on the continental stage.

Before CAHN, Vietnamese football had 6 clubs that participated in the qualifying or play-off rounds but none could secure a ticket to continue. Cảng Sài Gòn, SHB Đà Nẵng, Hà Nội, Thanh Hóa, TP.HCM, and Hải Phòng all stopped at the hands of opponents from India, Thailand, South Korea, Hong Kong, and China. The most unfortunate was perhaps Hải Phòng, who held Incheon United 1-1 after 90 minutes in the 2023-2024 season but lost 1-3 after extra time.

Including CAHN, Vietnam now has 9 clubs that have qualified for the group stage of Asia's most prestigious club competition. Hoàng Anh Gia Lai was the first to do so in 2004, and later appeared in 2005 and 2022. Notably, in the 2022 season, the mountain-town team earned 5 points against strong opponents like Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Sydney FC.

Becamex Bình Dương also left their mark with 3 group stage appearances in 2008, 2015, and 2016. Bình Định and Đồng Tâm Long An each made 2 appearances, while SHB Đà Nẵng, Nam Định, Thể Công - Viettel, and Hà Nội each played once in the group stage. Among these, Hà Nội made a strong impression in the 2023-2024 season by defeating Wuhan Three Towns and Urawa Red Diamonds both 2-1 at Mỹ Đình Stadium.

CAHN therefore not only follows in the footsteps of previous teams but also breaks a barrier that Vietnamese football has never conquered. Overcoming Adelaide United away from home shows that the Vietnamese representative is capable of competing in decisive matches. With coach Alexandre Polking and a highly regarded squad, CAHN is now presented with an opportunity to create another memorable milestone.

In the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/2027, CAHN will have to face many top Asian clubs in the group stage. The challenge is certainly huge, but the journey of the police team has brought a positive signal: Vietnamese football is no longer just aiming for participation, but can dream of going deep. If CAHN continues to create surprises and becomes the first Vietnamese club to advance past the group stage, history will truly be written.