Vietnam to face Japan in Football Asian Cup
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Vietnam are in Group D in the finals of the 2023 Asian Cup after a draw held on May 11 at the Katara Opera House in Doha.
The finals will be held in Qatar from January 12 to February 10, 2024, promising a thrilling affair.
Twenty-four teams including seven former champions are divided into six groups.
Vietnam, the Southeast Asian runners-up, will play Indonesia, 2007 champions Iraq and four-time winners Japan.
The hosts and defending champions Qatar are in Group A with their title defence to begin against two-time runners-up China, Tajikistan and Lebanon.
Group B will see 2015 champions Australia, Uzbekistan, Syria and India contesting for knockout stage spots.
Three-time winners Iran, 1996 runners-up United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and Palestine will vie for knockout stage spots in Group C
Twice champions South Korea will have Malaysia, Jordan and Bahrain to contend with in Group E while Group F will have three-time winners Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan and Oman.
The top two sides from each group and the four best third-placed teams will advance to the Round of 16.
The tournament was initially to be hosted this summer by China who then cancelled the event because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Qatar then was selected to host the event.
In the Asian Cup 2019, under coach Park Hang Seo, Việt Nam qualified to the knock-out round as one of the best third-place teams. The Golden Star warriors advanced to the quarter-finals where they lost 1-0 to Japan.
