Vietnam unseeded in AFF Cup
(VOV) - Despite co-hosting the 2014 ASEAN Football Championship’s AFF Suzuki Cup, Vietnam will enter the tournament unseeded due to disappointing results at recent AFF Cup tournaments.
From winning the AFF Cup only five years ago, the current Vietnamese team has fallen to sixth in regional rankings behind Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand.
Vietnam’s low standing could match it up against strong rivals such as Thailand and Malaysia at the championship.
Singapore and Vietnam will share hosting duties for the 2014 AFF Cup’s group matches, contested by eight teams.
Six leading teams automatically secure a berth in the group draw. The five teams of Myanmar, Laos, Timor-Leste, Brunei, and Cambodia will compete for two additional places in a qualifying round due to take place in Laos over October 8–19.
The group matches are scheduled for November 22 to December 20 next year. The groups themselves will be drawn in July 2014.
The AFF on August 26 recognised Australia as an official member, allowing the nation to join in select regional tournaments next season.