Việt Nam will be playing in what is considered an easy group, Group F, in the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers following an official draw by the continental football governing body in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on December 9.
Football
Midfielder Nguyễn Hai Long (left) seen in action during the Việt Nam vs Laos match at the ASEAN Cup on December 9. Việt Nam will see Laos again at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers next March. VNA/VNS Photo
HÀ NỘI Việt Nam will be playing in what is considered an easy group, Group F, in the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers following an official draw by the continental football governing body in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Monday.
The 24 teams are divided into six groups, with only the group winners allowed to advance further.
The Southeast Asian powerhouse, which is one of top seeded teams, will play Laos, Malaysia and Nepal.
It is said to be an easy group for Việt Nam because their three rivals are lower in the world rankings. Việt Nam are No 116, Malaysia No 132, Nepal No 175, and Laos No 186.
Pundits have said that Group F's top spot would be a battleground between Việt Nam and Malaysia.
An AFC official picks Việt Nam as one of four teams in Group F. -- Photo of AFC
Việt Nam just defeated Laos 4-1 on Monday, while Malaysia and Cambodia drew 2-2 one day earlier in their first match at the ongoing ASEAN Cup 2024.
In their last 10 meets, Việt Nam won eight, drew one and lost one. The team have secured five wins in a row since their AFF Cup (now ASEAN Cup) win in 2018.
Group A will see top seeds Tajikistan take on the Philippines, Maldives and Timor Leste, while Lebanon will face Yemen, Bhutan and Brunei Darussalam in Group B.
India, Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Bangladesh will vie for a spot in the finals in Group C, while Group D will see Thailand go up against Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei and Sri Lanka.
Group E includes Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Pakistan.
The qualifiers will kick off on March 25 and wrap up on March 31, with the teams to play on a home and away basis with a round robin format.
The six group winners will join 18 teams competing in the ongoing AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to 26 in Saudi Arabia in 2027.
They are Saudi Arabia, Australia, Iraq, Iran, Uzbekistan, Qatar, the UAE, Japan, South Korea, Oman, Palestine, Bahrain, Jordan, China, Indonesia, North Korea, Kuwait, and Kyrgyzstan.
Việt Nam took part in the Asian Cup Finals in 2007, 2019 and 2023, making it all the way to the quarter-finals in 2019. VNS