The Cong - Viettel in AFC Champions League Two: Coach Popov and his team must overcome countless obstacles

The Cong - Viettel must confront significant hurdles in the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Two, with Coach Velizar Popov's squad embarking on a tough path to reach the knockout rounds.

The Cong - Viettel face a significant challenge in the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) as they are in a group with opponents from top Asian football nations. To advance to the knockout stage, Coach Velizar Popov's team must show their mettle in every match.

The 2026/27 ACL2 draw placed The Cong - Viettel in a highly notable group in the East region. The Vietnamese representative must face FC Seoul (South Korea), Melbourne Victory (Australia), and the winner of the playoff between Persib Bandung (Indonesia) and Manila Digger (Philippines).

This is clearly not an easy group for the military team. The Cong - Viettel must compete against two representatives from K League 1 and A-League Men, leagues that are among the top in Asia in terms of professional quality and competitiveness.

FC Seoul - the biggest "mountain"

Among the opponents, Seoul is considered the most formidable challenge. Although they are participating for the first time, representatives from South Korea are always highly regarded due to their developed football foundation, quality squad, and international experience.

Against this opponent, The Cong - Viettel must maintain discipline, keep their shape, and minimize mistakes. The realistic goal for the army team could be to get points at home and try to minimize goals conceded when playing away at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Melbourne Victory - a pivotal match

If Seoul is the biggest challenge, then Melbourne Victory might be the direct decider for The Cong - Viettel's ambition to advance. The Australian representative has advantages in physique, stamina, speed, and transition ability. Aerial duels and set pieces could also become dangerous weapons.

However, The Red Tornado still have reasons to hope. With a pragmatic style, technical ability, flexible movement, and exploiting spaces behind the opponent's defense, the V-League representative can make a difference.

The two matches against Melbourne Victory are therefore considered six-pointers.

Persib Bandung/Manila Digger - an opportunity not to be missed

The remaining opponent for The Cong - Viettel will be determined after the playoff between Persib Bandung and Manila Digger.

If Persib Bandung advances, the Indonesian representative will certainly pose a significant challenge, especially due to the heat of their home ground. Meanwhile, Manila Digger is rated lower in experience and quality at the continental level.

No matter who the opponent is, The Cong - Viettel still need to aim for maximum points in their two direct encounters if they want to compete for a spot in the next round.

Coach Popov and the challenge of creating surprises

The Cong - Viettel's biggest asset lies in the tactical personality of Coach Popov. The Bulgarian coach is known for his energetic style, strong pressing, and fierce fighting spirit.

However, the continental stage demands more than that. Small mistakes against strong opponents can be very costly. Therefore, The Cong - Viettel will need a sensible strategy, while making good use of their reinforced squad to enhance their competitiveness.