The Viet Nam women's football team train for the second qualifying round of the Women's Olympic Football Tournament, Rio 2016. — Photo vff.org.vn

HA NOI (VNS) — The Viet Nam women's football team left for Myanmar today to prepare for the second qualifying round of the Women's Olympic Football Tournament, Rio 2016.

Thailand, Myanmar, Jordan and Chinese Taipei join Việt Nam in this qualifying round, with the winner moving on the next stage.

"This will be an interesting event with many challenges. I have information on Thailand, Myanmar and Chinese Taipei, not Jordan. We played two friendly matches against Taipei in Ha Noi in July. I think that Thailand and Myanmar will be Viet Nam's toughest rivals," said Viet Nam's Japanese head coach Norimatsu Takashi.

Viet Nam held a two-week training camp in Japan in preparation for the tournament.

According to Takashi, the Vietnamese team's physical strength has been improved.

"Vietnamese players have good technique. If they don't have good strength, they can't beat rivals who are taller and stronger than them. During training, I and the training board focused on strengthening their health. My players have made fast progress," Takashi added.

Takashi was worried that Myanmar's weather will impact on Viet Nam's performance but he now feels the team are ready.

Viet Nam will play Chinese Taipei on September 14, Myanmar on September 18, Jordan on September 20 and Thailand on September 22.

"The first match with Chinese Taipei is very important. We need a win," said Takashi.

All matches will be played at the Youth Training Centre Stadium in Yangon.

Jordan, Chinese Taipei and Myanmar qualified after topping their groups in the first round, while the teams ranked sixth and seventh in Asia, Thailand and Viet Nam respectively, automatically qualified for round 2.

Teams ranked in the top five – Japan (1st), Australia (2nd), North Korea (3rd), China (4th) and South Korea (5th) – automatically enter the final qualification round where they will be joined by the winner from round 2.

The top two finishers from the final qualification round will represent Asian at the Summer Olympics women's football tournament. — VNS