Challenge for the defending champion

After 42 matches of the qualifying round of group E (HCMC area), the 7 teams ranked first were determined: Ho Chi Minh City University of Physical Education and Sports (group 1), Van Hien University (group 2), Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry (group 3), Saigon University of Technology (group 4), Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (group 5), University of Science and Technology (HCMC National University, group 6), Ho Chi Minh City University of Technical Education (group 7) and the second-placed team with the best performance was Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics .

Scene of the draw for the play-off round of group E (qualifying round in Ho Chi Minh City area) at Thanh Nien Newspaper office on January 13

Of the 8 teams in the Ho Chi Minh City area entering the play-off round of the TNSV THACO cup 2025, 4 teams participated in this round last season, namely Ho Chi Minh City University of Physical Education and Sports, Van Hien University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology - Ho Chi Minh City National University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technical Education. Meanwhile, the remaining 4 teams are new faces, notably Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, Saigon University of Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics. This ratio accounts for half of the teams compared to the second season - 2024, when only 2 new teams entered the play-off round compared to the first - 2023. This has created a lot of excitement, because there is no longer the dominance of familiar names. The new faces also bring many significant innovations and diversity to the TNSV tournament.

Teams drawn for the play-off round in Ho Chi Minh City area

In the play-off round of Ho Chi Minh City, the 8 teams present were drawn according to the principle that the first and second teams in the group stage will not meet each other in the play-off round. Thus, the team of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technical Education (first in group 7) and the team of Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics (second in group 7) will not meet each other in the play-off, the remaining teams will be drawn randomly.

All 4 matches in the play-off round in Ho Chi Minh City area promise to be exciting.

The Ho Chi Minh City play-off matches will take place on January 14 and 15 at Ton Duc Thang University Stadium. The winners of the four matches will advance to the finals. The Ho Chi Minh City play-off schedule is as follows:

Results of the draw for the 4 play-off matches in Ho Chi Minh City area

Play-off match 1 (3:00 p.m. January 14): University of Technology (VNU-HCM) - Saigon University of Technology

Play-off match 2 (5:30 p.m. January 14): Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology - Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics

Play-off match 3 (3:00 p.m. January 15): Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry - Ho Chi Minh City University of Physical Education and Sports

Play-off match 4 (5:30 p.m. January 15): Van Hien University - Ho Chi Minh City University of Technical Education

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ket-qua-boc-tham-play-off-vong-loai-khu-vuc-tphcm-thach-thuc-cho-duong-kim-vo-dich-18525011309202749.htm