CAHN makes history, Dinh Bac and Quang Hai face a tough schedule.

The historic berth in the AFC Champions League Elite group stage is a deserving reward for Cong An Ha Noi, yet it also unveils a demanding season. Dinh Bac and Quang Hai's club must demonstrate enough squad depth to retain the V-League crown while also contending in the National Cup, ASEAN Club Championship, and the highest continental stage.

The 2-0 victory over Adelaide United right on Australian soil not only brought Cong An Ha Noi through the play-off for the first time to participate inAFC Champions League Elitebut also created a memorable milestone for Vietnamese football.

Notably, the clubCong An Ha Noiachieved that without having their strongest squad.

Dinh Bac, Quang Hai, Thanh Long, and Viet Anh are currently with the Vietnam national team at the 2026 ASEAN Cup, but coach Alexandre Polking's team still found players capable of making a difference.

David Henen, Brayan Perea, Damia Sabater, Frans Putros, Kevin Pham Ba... show that the club has prepared well in terms of personnel options. Coach Polking's system operated smoothly right from the first match of the season.

The victory on Australian soil is therefore even more valuable. The V-League representative did not win by luck but by playing smartly enough against an opponent with home advantage, fitness, and match rhythm. But from that achievement, a big question arises: where will Cong An Ha Noi find the strength to fight on multiple fronts?

The 2026/27 season will certainly be much tougher. Cong An Ha Noi not only have to defend the V-League title against fierce competition from The Cong Viettel, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, or Cong An TP.HCM, but also have to conquer the National Cup and the ASEAN Club Championship.

In the regional arena, opponents like Johor Darul Tazim, Port FC, Lion City Sailors, Svay Rieng, or Persib Bandung are not easy names to deal with. Not to mention the schedule in the AFC Champions League Elite will bring the Vietnamese club face to face with top Asian clubs, possibly Al Nassr of superstarRonaldo.

The biggest difference lies in the match density. A team may have a good squad, but if they have to constantly travel, play at high intensity, and face performance pressure in multiple competitions, squad depth is the decisive factor.

Cong An Ha Noi have proven they have quality replacement options when national team players are absent. However, coach Polking will therefore face a more difficult personnel management problem than ever. He must know when to field the strongest lineup, when to rotate, and most importantly, ensure the key players are not overloaded.

The ambition of Cong An Ha Noi now cannot stop at just defending the V-League title. The achievement against Adelaide has raised the team's standards to a new level. Having entered Asia's highest competition, the club must accept being placed alongside teams with superior financial foundations, player quality, and experience.

But those very matches are an opportunity for the club to grow. Coach Polking is right to say that players truly improve only when facing big challenges. For Vietnamese football, the fact that CLBCong An Ha Noiappears in the AFC Champions League Elite is not just a story of a single club. It is also an opportunity for Vietnamese players to regularly experience the highest continental level.

Cong An Ha Noi made history in Adelaide. But that history is only the starting point. The hardest part lies ahead: defending the domestic crown, competing in regional tournaments, and entering the AFC Champions League Elite as a Vietnamese representative that does not want to just make up the numbers.

If they maintain stability, make good use of foreign player depth, and manage personnel wisely, Cong An Ha Noi can completely turn the 2026/27 season into the most memorable season in the club's history.