Vietnamese players head for AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers
VOV.VN - The Vietnamese futsal team coached by Diego Raul Giustozzi departed for Mongolia on October 4 to compete in the 2024 AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers, an event which will also serve as the qualifiers for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup.
To prepare for the Asian competition, the Vietnamese team played two friendlies in the past month, losing 4-1 to Hungary (World No.28) and drawing 3-3 with Russia (World No. 4).
Right before flying to Mongolia coach Giustozzi made a shortlist of 15 players, eliminating four players, namely goalkeepers Luu Thanh Bao, and Nguyen Hoang Anh, and pivo Nguyen Tran Duy and Nguyen Van Tuan.
Vietnam will play in Group D alongside Mongolia on October 7, Nepal on October 9 and the Republic of Korea on October 11. They aim to be group winners to progress through to the final round.
A total of 31 Asian futsal teams have been divided into eight groups, with the best eight group winners and seven second-placed teams progressing to the final round, which will also serve as the qualifying round of the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup.
The Vietnamese team have played in two FIFA Futsal World Cups before, in 2016 and 2020, reaching the knockout-stage in both tournaments.
At the most recent World Cup, they ended their campaign in the round of 16. They are now placed 39th in the global rankings.
