Japanese media warns J.League giants after drawing CAHN in AFC Champions League.

Following the AFC Champions League Elite draw, Japanese media have taken particular notice of Hanoi Police FC. Sporting News Japan went as far as issuing a warning to five J.League teams about the power and capabilities of the Vietnamese title holders.

2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite draw results put Hanoi Police FC on a special journey, facing as many as five Japanese representatives: Kashima Antlers, Kashiwa Reysol, Kyoto Sanga, Gamba Osaka, and Vissel Kobe.

Right after the matchups were confirmed, Sporting News Japan dedicated a separate article to analyzing the strength of the Vietnamese representative.

From the very title, author Praia posed the question: "Hanoi Police FC, the Vietnamese champions that J.League teams must be wary of – what kind of team are they?"

This way of framing the issue shows that Japanese media do not view Hanoi Police FC as merely a newcomer making its first appearance in the AFC Champions League Elite league stage. Sporting News Japan first paid attention to the high-quality domestic player roster of the police-affiliated club, with many names holding important roles in the Vietnam national team.

Nguyen Quang Hai is mentioned as one of the most outstanding players. The Japanese press highly values his international experience, left-foot technique, game-reading ability, and capacity to make a difference.

Nguyen Dinh Bac is also among the players that J.League representatives must keep an eye on. Sporting News Japan highlights his speed, ability to create surprises, and outstanding form while playing for the Vietnam national team at the 2026 AFF Cup.

Not only does the club have a notable domestic squad, but the depth of foreign players at Hanoi Police FC is also analyzed in detail by Japanese media. Stefan Mauk is a special case, as the Australian midfielder previously played for Fagiano Okayama, giving him a certain understanding of Japanese football.

Additionally, Iraqi international France Putros is seen as a crucial addition to the defense, while former Colombia U20 international Brian Perea gives Hanoi Police FC more options and strength up front.

However, the detail that truly made Sporting News Japan cautious about the Vietnamese representative lies in their performance in the AFC Champions League Elite play-off. Despite being away at Adelaide United and missing several key players, Hanoi Police FC still won 2-0 to secure a spot in the league stage.

According to the Japanese paper's analysis, that match showed CAHN possesses considerable squad depth. Even when missing some key players, the team maintained its playing structure, while new signings were able to integrate quickly and make an impact.

Not stopping at professional factors, author Praia also devotes a significant portion to discussing the development potential of Hanoi Police FC. The article mentions that the club possesses substantial financial resources and has established a strategic partnership with Japanese sports brand Mizuno for the 2026-2029 period.

According to Sporting News Japan, these moves show that Hanoi Police FC not only wants to strengthen its squad for a few seasons, but also aims to elevate its brand and expand the club's standing in the Asian football market.

The Japanese press thus offers a notable assessment: J.League clubs should not view Hanoi Police FC merely as an opponent in this season's AFC Champions League Elite, but also as a new force capable of continuing to grow in scale in the future.