Only one team will be relegated from the V-League 2016.

On December 19th, VPF held the draw and scheduled the matches for the national professional football leagues.

The 2016 V-League season featured 14 clubs participating in the national championship: Becamex Binh Duong, Hanoi, Hanoi T&T, Hai Phong, Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Long An, QNK Quang Nam, Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN, SHB Da Nang, Song Lam Nghe An, Than Quang Ninh, FLC Thanh Hoa, Dong Thap, and XSKT Can Tho.

VPF General Director Cao Van Chong (left) at the draw ceremony for the new season's fixtures. (Photo: Hai Dang)

The new season will kick off with the Super Cup match between B.Binh Duong and Hanoi T&T at Go Dau Stadium on February 14, 2016. Meanwhile, the first match of the 2016 V-League will take place on February 20. The opening match of the 2016 V-League is expected to be a clash between HAGL and Hanoi FC (the newly promoted team) at Hang Day Stadium.

According to the new regulations of VPF, this season the team at the bottom of the V-League table will be directly relegated, while the second-to-last team will have to participate in a play-off to secure their place in the league. The number of teams participating in the V-League remains unchanged at 14.

According to the draw results, HAGL will face newly promoted Hanoi FC in the opening match. (Photo: Hai Dang)

In other tournaments, the 2016 National First Division League had 10 participating clubs: Binh Phuoc, Ca Mau, Hue, Dak Lak, Dong Nai, Nam Dinh, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Yen, Viettel, and XM Fico Tay Ninh. The clubs were randomly assigned numbers from 1 to 10.

The 2016 National Cup features 24 clubs from the National Championship and National First Division. This year, the format of the National Cup has been changed compared to previous years. In the qualifying rounds and the Round of 16, clubs compete in a single-match knockout format according to the drawn schedule. From the quarter-finals to the Final, clubs compete in a two-match knockout format (home and away).

According to VOV