CAHN still has the chance to face Al Nassr and Ronaldo

Công An Hà Nội as the only Vietnamese team advancing to the 2025/26 AFC Cup 2 knockout round creates a unique possibility for Mano Polking's squad to meet Cristiano Ronaldo's club.

After the group stage of the 2025/26 AFC Champions League Two concluded, Vietnamese football was left with only one team continuing their journey on the continental stage: Công An Hà NộiNam Định, despite having the same points as their direct rival, had to bow out due to an inferior tiebreaker, ending V.League’s hopes right after the group phase.

This year’s tournament features 16 teams advancing, evenly split between East Asia and West Asia. In East Asia, CAHN competes alongside strong teams like Gamba Osaka, Pohang Steelers, Bangkok United, and Macarthur. Meanwhile, West Asia includes several powerful clubs, most notably Al Nassr, the team featuring Cristiano Ronaldo.

According to the AFC Champions League Two format, the two regions will play separately from the Round of 16 until the East Asia and West Asia champions are determined. Only the top two teams from each region will face off in the pan-Asian final. This means CAHN cannot meet Al-Nassr before the tournament's final match.

Finishing second in Group E, CAHN must face a group winner in the East Asia quarterfinals. Potential opponents include the traditionally strong Japanese club Gamba Osaka or other less favored teams like Persib or Tampines Rovers.

Regardless of the draw, CAHN’s path is expected to be challenging, as East Asia remains a highly competitive region with clubs that have superior tactical and physical foundations.

On the other hand, Al-Nassr is considered the top contender in the West Asia region. With a deep squad and a star like Cristiano Ronaldo, the Saudi Arabian club has a strong chance to advance far if they maintain consistent form. However, tournament history shows surprises can always happen, and no team can afford to be complacent.

For CAHN, the prospect of facing Ronaldo is still distant but by no means unrealistic. The prerequisite is that the Vietnamese side must overcome numerous challenges in East Asia to reach the regional final. This is a tough task but not impossible, considering past Southeast Asian teams have shocked the competition in previous seasons.

The AFC Champions League Two is a revamped version of the AFC Cup, designed to elevate mid-level clubs across Asia. The champion earns a spot in the AFC Champions League Elite qualifiers, opening greater opportunities for developing football nations. For CAHN, every match from now on is not just a chance to progress but also an occasion for Vietnamese football to assert its status. If the best-case scenario unfolds, a showdown with Ronaldo would become a historic and unforgettable milestone.