Football

(From left) South Korean football officials, coach and players pose next to the FIFA Women's World Cup Original Trophy during its global tour stop at Starfield COEX Mall in Seoul, February 27. The trophy will arrive in Việt Nam this weekend. YONHAP Photo

HÀ NỘI — The FIFA Women's World Cup trophy procession will be held on March 4 in Hà Nội, one of the destinations on its tour around the world.

Việt Nam is the fourth country on the list of 32 places that the trophy will visit. The first one was Japan on February 25-26.

It came to South Korea on February 27 and the Philippines on March 1-2.

The Trophy will crisscross the globe by visiting Asia, Africa, South America, North America and Europe before landing in all nine Women’s World Cup host cities in the final weeks before the start of the tournament on July 20.

The Việt Nam Football Federation (VFF) will organise a ceremony to welcome the silverware at the Việt Nam Youth Football Training Centre.

"The national women's football team made history by winning its first World Cup birth ever," said Nguyễn Thanh Hà, deputy general secretary of the VFF.

"An important event before the competition is the trophy world tour to all participating countries. After the Philippines, the cup will land in Việt Nam on the night of March 3.

"The cup will be escorted by FIFA officials and guards. We have made a programme to welcome the trophy. The ceremony will see the presence of government officials, New Zealand and Australia ambassadors to Việt Nam, the two co-hosts of the World Cup, and ambassadors of countries which are in the same group with Việt Nam," she said.

She added that national head coach Mai Đức Chung, his assistants and players will also take part in the event.

The VFF also invited former players and 30 girls who are training at the centre to the ceremony.

Việt Nam is one of six Asian countries to play in the Australia/New Zealand World Cup.

Following a draw last October, Việt Nam, a first-time World Cup participant, will be in Group E with defending champions USA, first runner-up the Netherlands and a playoff match winner. They will play all three matches in New Zealand.

In preparation for the event, coach Mai Đức Chung will summon his players on March 10 to Hà Nội. They will have two intensive training sessions in Japan and Germany before leaving for the World Cup. — VNS