Football

Hồng Lĩnh Hà TĨnh players at training. They will host Nam Đinh in the opening match of the BaF Meat National Cup on April 5. Photo of Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh FC

HÀ NỘI — The National Cup football tournament will kick off this afternoon under a new name as part of a sponsorship deal signed in Hà Nội.

The Việt Nam Professional Football Company (VPF) officially announced that BaF Việt Nam Agriculture Joint Stock Company would sponsor the tournament over the 2022 season, and the event will be named the BaF Meat National Cup.

BaF is a leading national company specialising in animal breeding, farming and supply.

“The BaF company’s trust to go along with VPF in organising and managing activities helps give VPF confidence in the tournament’s success. I hope that our cooperation will contribute to national football development,” said Nguyễn Minh Ngọc, VPF General Director.

Meanwhile, Bùi Hương Giang, BaF General Director, said: “We are pleased to join our hands in organising the event and pushing local football.”

“Being the main sponsor of the National Cup is a chance for BaF to show our social responsibility and connect with the community. I believe that the cooperation between BaF and VPF will bring a competitive tournament and beautiful matches to supporters.” 

The National Cup gathers 25 clubs from V.League 1 and 2. Eighteen teams will enter the knock-out qualification round.

A match between Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh and Nam Định will serve as the tournament opener at the Hà Tĩnh Province Stadium on April 5. Quảng Nam and Becamex Bình Dương will also play each other today.

Two games will be held on April 6, and five on April 7. The winners will join seven other teams in the last-eight round on April 9, 10 and 11.

The final is scheduled for November 20.

All matches will be live aired on VTVCab channels.

The winner will walk away with a VNĐ1 billion (US$44,000) purse and will represent Việt Nam at the AFC Cup 2023.

The second and third-placed teams will receive VNĐ500 million and VNĐ200 million, respectively. — VNS