Vietnamese volleyball absent from Asian Cup 2026

Fans will not have the chance to see Vietnamese clubs compete in the continental arena this year.

On March 20, the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) conducted the draw for the women's AVC Champions League 2026. However, the participation list only includes 8 teams, with no representatives from Vietnam, notably the absence of club VTV Bình Điền Long An.

Accordingly, VTV Bình Điền Long An proactively did not register for this year's tournament, despite previously unexpectedly receiving a special invitation from AVC. This decision was made after careful consideration of professional aspects as well as the dense competition schedule in the early phase of the 2026 season.

One of the main reasons for the withdrawal is the new competition format of the AVC Champions League. This year's tournament adopts a knockout system from the start, instead of the previous group stage format. This means teams only play one match; if they lose, they are eliminated immediately. With this format, the opportunities for teams to gain international exposure and accumulate experience are significantly limited.

In that context, VTV Bình Điền Long An's non-participation is considered a reasonable choice, to ensure the best preparation for important domestic objectives. Currently, coach Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Hoa and her team are competing in the Hoa Lư - Bình Điền Cup 2026 in Ninh Bình and have secured a spot in the semifinals.

The AVC Champions League 2026 takes place from April 26 to April 30, featuring teams from South Korea (host), Japan, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Thailand, and Indonesia. The Southeast Asian region has two participating teams: Supreme Chonburi (Thailand) and Bandung BJB (Indonesia).

In the men's category, Biên Phòng - the reigning national champion - will also not participate. VFV plans to select the national men's volleyball team as a substitute, but the tournament's format change means Nguyễn Ngọc Thuân and his teammates miss their chance.