The qualifying round will feature 27 teams representing professional and semi-professional clubs, training centres and sports schools nationwide. The teams will be divided into five groups and compete in a double round-robin format at designated host venues.
According to the tournament structure, the five group winners, five runners-up and the best third-placed team will progress to the final round, set for 14–27 January 2026.
Group C will include the U19 squads of LPBank HAGL, Bê tông 26 Gia Lai, Huế, Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh and Sông Lam Nghệ An. All Group C fixtures will take place at HAGL’s Hàm Rồng Training Center.