Vietnam have been placed in Pot 3 for the 2019 Asian Cup draw, together with Iraq, Uzbekistan, India, Qatar, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Being placed in Pot 3, Vietnam is likely to be drawn in an easy group at the 2019 Asian Cup. 

Park Hang-seo’s side completed their qualification campaign as Group C runners-up with ten points, only two points behind the group leaders, Jordan.

The 1-1 draw against Jordan in their last Group C match on March 27 helped Vietnam to climb ten notches to world no. 103 in the FIFA rankings with 331 points, thereby escaping the last pot in the draw for next year’s AFC Asian Cup.

By being seeded in the same pot as former semifinalists, Iraq, and former quarterfinalists, Uzbekistan, Park Hang-seo and his players will avoid these strong teams in the group stage of the 2019 Asian Cup finals.

Meanwhile, the remaining two Southeast Asian representatives, the Philippines and Thailand, are in Pot 4, together with Bahrain, Jordan, Yemen, and Turkmenistan.

The Asian Cup has been held every four years since 1956, with Japan having claimed the most titles (four) and Australia being the reigning champions. The 2019 competition is scheduled to take place from January 5 to February 1, with the participation of 24 teams.

This will be the second time that Vietnam has been present in the largest continental football tournament. In its debut 11 years ago, Vietnam was the only representative of Southeast Asia to progress through the group stage.

Nhan Dan