History shows that while the journey from the First Division to the V-League often begins with fanfare, the road ahead is riddled with challenges. It begs the question: is the investment truly worthwhile?

V-League gets more expensive

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With million-dollar stars like Hoang Duc, Ninh Binh easily secured a V-League spot.

The 2024/25 season has concluded, with Ninh Binh securing a direct promotion ticket and Binh Phuoc heading into the play-off round. What both clubs have in common is a strong financial commitment, ready to spend big in pursuit of their V-League dreams.

Backed by a major bank, Ninh Binh underwent a complete squad overhaul, recruiting a series of high-caliber, V-League-experienced players such as Hoang Duc, Dang Van Lam, and Dinh Thanh Binh to ensure promotion.

With a squad valued in the tens of millions of USD (mainly from signing bonuses), Ninh Binh’s unbeaten First Division championship run seemed a foregone conclusion given their superior investment.

Binh Phuoc, though more restrained, also demonstrated their ambition by signing notable former national team players like Cong Phuong, Tuan Tai, and Phi Son.

Most recently, the club offered a bonus of up to 10 billion VND (approximately 393,000 USD) for a win over SHB Da Nang in the promotion play-off. While this figure may not seem extraordinary, it's worth noting that the V-League champion receives only 5 billion VND (about 197,000 USD) in prize money, underscoring how determined Binh Phuoc is to earn a spot in Vietnam’s top-tier league.

From both cases, it’s evident that earning a V-League berth is no cheap endeavor.

Is it worth the investment?

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Fans hope Ninh Binh and Binh Phuoc (if promoted) won’t repeat Binh Dinh’s downfall.

Securing promotion through financial power is merely the first step. Recent V-League newcomers offer a cautionary tale.

Hanoi Police FC (CAHN) stands out as a rare success story, winning the league in their first season back. However, theirs is a unique model. Most newly promoted clubs face a harsh reality.

Take Binh Dinh, for instance. Once seen as a rising force and V-League runner-up, they had made significant investments even before their promotion. However, just a few years after reaching the summit, the club plunged into financial crisis due to sponsor troubles, leading to a mass player exodus and eventual relegation in the 2024/25 season.

This case illustrates how V-League is a long, expensive journey. Splashing cash to move up is one thing; staying competitive and building a sustainable foundation is another. Success requires stable funding and a well-thought-out, long-term strategy.

Fans hope that Ninh Binh - and potentially Binh Phuoc - can avoid such pitfalls. More than just strong performances, they need to establish a club with character and stability, one that can contribute real value to the V-League rather than fading out after a brief moment in the spotlight.

Duy Nguyen