World Cup qualifier against Malaysia set for new venue
VOV.VN - The Vietnam national football team’s crucial 2022 World Cup qualifying match against Malaysia in Group G will be cancelled due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic threat, according to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).
Due to this, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is currently considering switching the remaining World Cup’s qualifiers to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the Zayed stadium potentially hosting the fixtures in June this year.
This is because the UAE is able to meet three important criteria, including sufficient air transport and infrastructure, whilst guest teams will not be forced to undergo a long isolation period. The AFC is therefore waiting for ideas from other participants, including the VFF, before making a final decision.
Le Hoai Anh, general secretary of the VFF, said the federation is currently waiting for head coach Park Hang-seo to finish his quarantine period before devising a final plan for the Vietnamese team.
The Vietnamese team are currently leading Group G with 11 points, followed by Malaysia with nine points, Thailand with eight points, the UAE with six points, and Indonesia with zero points.
The national team are scheduled to compete in three matches as part of the current qualifying process, with ties against Malaysia on March 30, Indonesia on June 7, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on June 15.