Vietnam futsal team to face world's 4th ranked team again

In preparation for the 2024 Asian Futsal Championship qualifiers, the Vietnamese futsal team will have two friendly matches with two strong opponents Hungary and Russia in Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam futsal team (left) in a narrow 2-3 loss to Russia at the 2021 Futsal World Cup - Photo: GETTY IMAGES

On the morning of September 6, the Vietnamese futsal team gathered again in Ho Chi Minh City to prepare for the 2024 Asian Futsal Championship qualifiers.

The team's squad includes players who just completed a training session in South America last June. The most regrettable absence is former captain Tran Van Vu, who decided to hang up his boots after winning the 2023 HDBank National Futsal Championship with Thai Son Nam Ho Chi Minh City Club .

Tran Van Vu shared: "I was very sad and thought a lot before making this decision. But I think this is the right time to stop and create opportunities for young players to develop."

According to plan, coach Giustozzi Diego Raul and his team will practice at the District 8 Futsal Club Gymnasium from now until October 3.

Captain Tran Van Vu (right) in the match against Russia at the 2021 Futsal World Cup - Photo: GETTY IMAGES

During this training period, the Vietnamese futsal team will have two international friendly matches with the Hungarian futsal team (ranked 28th in the world ) on September 17; followed by the Russian futsal team (ranked 4th in the world) two days later at the Lanh Binh Thang Gymnasium (HCMC).

At the 2021 Futsal World Cup in Lithuania, the Vietnamese futsal team played very well when facing Russia in the round of 16 and only lost 2-3. Therefore, the rematch in Ho Chi Minh City is highly anticipated.

On October 4, the Vietnamese futsal team will leave for Mongolia to participate in the 2024 Asian Futsal Championship qualifiers.

The 2024 AFC Futsal Championship Qualifiers will feature 31 teams, divided into 8 groups (1 group of 3 teams, 7 groups of 4 teams). The top 8 teams from each group, along with the 7 best runners-up and the host team (yet to be determined), will compete in the finals.

According to the draw results, the Vietnamese futsal team is in Group D and will meet Mongolia (October 7), Nepal (October 9) and South Korea (October 11). The goal of the Vietnamese futsal team is to win the group and go straight to the final round.

List of Vietnam futsal team

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