Hanoi FC face easy fixtures in draw for group stage of AFC Cup 2021
VOV.VN - The draw held at headquarters of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in Malaysia on January 27 saw Hanoi FC put into Group G alongside teams from Indonesia and Cambodia in the 2021 version of the AFC Cup.
The side from the capital have been drawn in the same group alongside Bali United FC of Indonesia, Boeung Ket FC of Cambodia, and the winner of play-off match one.
Elsewhere in the competition local club Saigon FC are in Group H alongside Lion City FC of Singapore, Kedah FC of Malaysia, and the winner of play-off match two.
Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the tournament’s group stage will be held between June 22 and June 28, with all group stage matches set to be played at a concentrated place.
Therefore, in order to reach the final round participating clubs must play in nine matches as opposed to 14 matches in previous versions of the tournament.
This comes after the AFC Cup 2020 was cancelled due to ongoing efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021 version of the tournament will see the participation of 39 teams from five zones, including West Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, East Asia, and ASEAN.
Vietnam’s two representatives in the competition will be Hanoi FC and Saigon FC and they will compete in the ASEAN zone.
