Nguyễn Đức Thụy, one of three nominees for president of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) in its 10th term, published his election programme on the morning of 22 October 2026. Its headline target is to raise the federation's revenue to 600-1,000 billion VND a year from 2027, all of it from non-state sources, and to stop using the state budget, according to VnExpress, Dân trí and Tuổi Trẻ. He also proposes studying an expansion of the V.League to 16-18 teams.

The race and the timeline

  • Evening of 21 October 2026: the VFF published the nominations for its executive and inspection committees, Tuổi Trẻ reported. The three presidential nominees are Thụy (born 1976), standing vice-chairman of Sacombank's board; Trần Quốc Tuấn (born 1971), the current VFF president; and Nguyễn Xuân Vũ (born 1981), a current VFF vice-president and Sacombank vice-chairman. KBVN+ reported the nominations.
  • Morning of 22 October 2026: Thụy confirmed he is standing and set out his programme. He was also nominated for vice-president in charge of finance and sponsorship, but Tuổi Trẻ expects him to run only for the top job.
  • Next step: according to Tuổi Trẻ, the VFF sends the files of candidates who accept to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for vetting.

Thụy is no newcomer. VnExpress says he chaired Sài Gòn Xuân Thành in 2011-2013, returned in 2024 as chairman of Ninh Bình and later handed the role to his daughter, Nguyễn Ngọc Mỹ Anh. Bongda24h notes that Ninh Bình won the First Division in 2024/25 to earn promotion.

From 270 billion to 1,000 billion

VnExpress reports that the VFF took in 286 billion VND in 2024 and 270 billion VND in 2025, with profits of roughly 2 billion VND and 4 billion VND. Thụy wants 600-1,000 billion VND a year from 2027 through sponsorship, corporate partnerships, commercial rights, digital content and football services, Dân trí and Tuổi Trẻ report. All funds would be publicly managed, audited by a Big 4 firm and overseen by member organisations.

His boldest pledge is to cover 100% of the federation's operating costs from private and self-generated income. The VFF would stop using state money, he said according to VnExpress, because a sport with football's appeal and fundraising power should take responsibility for itself. The annual budget allocation for football tasks, about 80 billion VND, would be offered to sports with medal chances at the ASIAD and the Olympics.

According to Dân trí and Tuổi Trẻ, Thụy says he has the backing of billionaire Phạm Nhật Vượng (Vingroup), businessmen Đỗ Quang Hiển and Đoàn Nguyên Đức, and ThaiGroup. That is the candidate's own account, not an announced sponsorship commitment.

AreaNow (per VnExpress)Programme target
VFF revenue286 billion VND (2024), 270 billion VND (2025)600-1,000 billion VND a year from 2027
V.League teams1416-18
First Division teams1418-20
Women's league teams78-10

What it would mean for Vietnamese clubs and players

The programme proposes 2-3 billion VND a year for each eligible provincial federation, plus 3 billion VND per V.League club, 2 billion VND per First Division club and 2 billion VND per women's club each season. Dân trí says Thụy stresses these still need a financial plan, criteria and a disbursement timetable, and must not duplicate existing payouts. VFF staff pay would rise 2-3 times from 2027.

On competitions, he wants the VFF, the league organiser VPF, clubs and experts to study a 16-18-team V.League, an 18-20-team First Division and an 8-10-team women's league, citing players who train for years but then lack match time, according to Bongda24h. Dân trí stresses this is an option to study, not a decision.

Internationally, the plan aims to train at least 20 more officials from 2027, place at least 5-10 Vietnamese staff at the AFF, AFC and FIFA by 2030, invest in 10-20 promising referees and assistants, and prepare candidates for posts such as AFF president, AFC vice-president or FIFA Council member.

What comes next

Tuổi Trẻ and Bongda24h say the VFF congress is scheduled for 4 January 2027 in Hanoi. Tuổi Trẻ adds that it can only go ahead once Vietnamese authorities, FIFA and the AFC approve, and could be delayed if preparations are not complete. According to VnExpress, 57 member organisations will vote by secret ballot for a president, three vice-presidents and about 13 other executive committee members. Follow the race in our Vietnam football news.