Football

Việt Nam's players who won a silver medal from the AFC U18 Women's Asian Cup will be the country's representatives at the AFC U20 Asian Cup in 2024. — Photo of AFC

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam has a good chance to secure slots in both 2024 AFC tournaments for U17 and U20 women's teams after draws conducted on November 3 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

After the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers Round 1 draw, 29 teams have been divided into eight groups with the top team to advance to Round 2.

Round 2 will have two groups with the top two teams from each group joining the three highest seeded sides from the 2019 AFC U16 Women’s Championship – defending champions Japan, North Korea and China – and hosts Indonesia in the Finals.

Việt Nam will host Group C which includes Uzbekistan, Palestine and Bahrain.

Group A will see Malaysia, Northern Mariana Islands and host Thailand while all of Indonesia's matches are deemed as friendlies.

Group B will have Australia, Chinese Taipei, hosts Mongolia and Bhutan vying for the top spot.

Bangladesh, hosts Singapore, United Arab Emirates and Turkmenistan are to compete in Group D.

South Korea, Hong Kong, hosts Tajikistan and Iraq will fight for Group E's top spot with Myanmar, India and hosts Kyrgyz Republic in Group F.

Group G consists of the Philippines, Lebanon and hosts Guam while the Islamic Republic of Iran, hosts Jordan and Nepal are in Group H.

The first qualifiers will be played from April 22 to 30, 2023, with the second round scheduled for September 16 to 24. The finals will be contested on April 7-20, 2024.

Later on November 3, the draw for the 2024 AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifier Round 1 was organised at the same venue.

The eight group winners will progress to Round 2, where the four best sides will earn a spot in the finals and join the three highest seeds from the 2019 AFC U19 Women’s Championship –champions Japan, North Korea and South Korea – and host Uzbekistan.

Việt Nam will play India, Singapore and Indonesia in Group F.

China, hosts Laos, Hong Kong and the Philippines were drawn in Group A while Group B will see Nepal, United Arab Emirates, Northern Mariana Islands and hosts Palestine vying for the top spot.

Group C has Australia, hosts Kyrgyz Republic, Guam and Iraq. Lebanon, hosts Jordan, Mongolia and Bhutan are the teams in Group D.

Hosts Thailand, Chinese Taipei and Tajikistan will fight for the Group E top spot with matches against Uzbekistan deemed as friendlies.

Group G consists of Myanmar, Malaysia, Pakistan and hosts Cambodia while Iran, hosts Bangladesh and Turkmenistan are in Group H.

Round 1 games will be played on March 4-12, 2023. Round 2 is scheduled for June 1-11. The finals are on March 3 to 16, 2024.

In preparation for both tournaments, Vietnamese players will be summoned from early January 2023 to have a two-month intensive practice to sharpen their skills. — VNS