Binh Dinh vs Ho Chi Minh - Cup

The Cup returns to the home ground on September 18, 2026, where Binh Dinh and Ho Chi Minh will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. It has not been a daunting fixture list but there are signs that Mourinho has found a way to get the best from an increasingly stacked Madrid squad.

The two sides arrive with plenty to prove, and the Cup contest at the home ground offers a chance to lay down a marker. The hosts will hope that the the home ground crowd can inspire a performance, whatever the numbers suggest. Ho Chi Minh's away form is hard to read, but they will arrive with the belief that they can trouble their hosts. Larson has not visited Victory Lane since May last year but remains firmly in championship contention, sitting eighth in the standings as the NASCAR Chase approaches in September.

The tactical subplot is compelling: Binh Dinh favour a possession-based game built on patience and control, while Ho Chi Minh are happiest sitting deep and exploding forward on the counter — a classic contrast of philosophies. Hipolito/Europa Press via Getty Images) According to Fabrizio Romano, Man United 'are not proceeding' with a move for the Brighton midfielder.

Neither side is short on individuals capable of tilting the balance, and the duel between the two squads' chief creators could prove particularly pivotal. The battle in midfield, where both sides look to control tempo, could prove the decisive arena. Benjamin Sesko started his first game of the season for Manchester United on Thursday and his goal was a timely boost ahead of the derby with Man City.

Predictions are tricky when the sides are this evenly matched, and small margins — a moment of quality, a slice of luck — could decide it either way. Neither side holds a clear edge, and a 1-1 draw would be a fitting reflection of the balance between them. The result at the home ground could resonate well beyond matchday in the Cup picture. In terms of outgoings, Perri seems closest to an exit, but that will likely have to wait until Trafford's mandated holiday after the World Cup is over or a No 2 arrives.