Thể Công Viettel will host FC Seoul at 19:15 Vietnam time on 28 October at Hàng Đẫy stadium in the third round of group E of the AFC Champions League Two 2026/27. At his press conference on 27 October, coach Velizar Popov spent most of his time criticising the refereeing in the first two rounds, arguing that four decisions against his team, in a group stage played without VAR, changed their results. FC Seoul coach Kim Gi Dong, meanwhile, said the Korean champions would field their strongest side instead of the rotated squads of their first two games.
Popov says he can no longer stay silent
According to Tuổi Trẻ, the Bulgarian said the lack of VAR in the group stage meant recent results did not reflect his team's quality, and that 4 refereeing decisions in two games had worked against them and completely changed the outcome. The incidents he listed, as reported by Tuổi Trẻ, were:
- Against Melbourne Victory on 16 September: Rimario was fouled in the box in the 14th minute with no penalty given, and a Thể Công goal was ruled out.
- Against Persib Bandung on 14 October: a Rimario goal was disallowed in the 22nd minute, and Paulinho received a second yellow card in the 67th minute.
SGGP reported that Popov stressed the goal and penalty incidents all came with the score at 0-0. He told reporters he had chosen to keep quiet so as not to look for excuses, but that when wrong decisions only ever go against one side they are no longer random mistakes but deliberate, Tuổi Trẻ reported. Staying silent solves nothing and only makes things worse, he added, saying he had to defend his club and the country he represents.
Bongda24h, republishing a report by Thể thao & Văn hóa, quoted Popov as saying the team would not use these factors as an excuse and would focus on football and on beating FC Seoul.
Group E so far and Thể Công's form
| Date | Match | Thể Công result |
|---|---|---|
| 16 September | Thể Công Viettel v Melbourne Victory (home) | Drew 1-1 |
| 14 October | Persib Bandung v Thể Công Viettel (in Indonesia) | Lost 0-1 |
| 28 October, 19:15 | Thể Công Viettel v FC Seoul (Hàng Đẫy) | To be played |
According to Bongda24h, Persib Bandung have a perfect 6 points from two games, Thể Công Viettel have 1 point and FC Seoul have none after losing 0-3 to Melbourne Victory in the second round. Persib beat Thể Công through a Mariano Peralta penalty in the 45th minute, in a game in which both Paulinho of Thể Công and Marc Klok of Persib were sent off. SGGP reported that Popov confirmed he cannot use Paulinho against Seoul.
Form is a worry too. Bongda24h and Bongdaplus said Thể Công are on a run of 6 games without a win in all competitions and have only 4 points from five V.League rounds, including a 2-2 draw with Bắc Ninh. Bongdaplus added that some players are back in training after injury but not yet fit enough to start.
FC Seoul change their approach
Kim Gi Dong explained that early in the competition FC Seoul had to prioritise the K League 1, so they rested key players and gave chances to reserves in Asia, Bongda24h reported. With the domestic title secured, he plans to bring the regulars back into the starting line-up, with the aim of taking 3 points and getting out of the group.
Popov congratulated Seoul on winning the Korean title after a 10-year wait, SGGP reported, but argued that their use of reserves in the first two rounds had shifted the group in favour of Persib and Melbourne, and that Seoul's strongest line-up could now change it again.
His target has not changed. Even though Seoul are the favourites in the group, he said, his team will fight hard and aim to win, Tuổi Trẻ reported. He also warned, according to Bongdaplus, that the Seoul players are very strong physically and that his side must keep going until the final minute. Midfielder Khuất Văn Khang, who joined him at the press conference, called FC Seoul one of the best teams in Asia and said the squad must stay fully focused for the whole match.
Before kick-off
The match kicks off at 19:15 on 28 October at Hàng Đẫy. In its preview, Bongda24h argued that a draw would do little for the hosts' position in group E, so Thể Công need a win to keep their hopes alive, while FC Seoul want to get back into the race after a disappointing start. Follow the result and the Vietnamese clubs' continental campaigns at Vietnam football news.