Organisers conduct the draw for the National Women's Football Championship which will begin on May 1. Photos courtesy of VFF

HÀ NỘI — Defending champions HCM City will play Sơn La in the opening match of the National Women's Football Championship on May 1 in Bà Rịa Vũng Tàu Province.

It was a tough draw for Sơn La, the bottom team last season, as HCM City are favourites for the title despite losing three players.

The draw was organised on April 8 in Hà Nội when the Việt Nam Football Federation (VFF) also announced its main sponsor, Thái Sơn Bắc Electric Equipment Trading Company, for the next three seasons.

Eight teams will compete in the two-leg round-robin format. The first leg will be from May 1 to June 1 in Vũng Tàu City and the second leg will be from July 2 to August 2 in Quảng Ninh or Hà Nội.

This year, VFF has increased the award for the champion from VNĐ300 million to VNĐ 500 million. The team will represent Việt Nam at the AFC Women's Clubs Cup which is planned for the first time in October.

The two runners-up will receive bigger bonuses of VNĐ300 million and VNĐ200 million, respectively.

Speaking at the ceremony Thái Sơn Bắc General Director Trần Anh Minh said the company was glad to continue sponsoring the national women's championship in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

VFF General Secretary Sương Nghiệp Khôi (left) and Thái Sơn Nam General Director Trần Anh Minh at the sponsorship announcement on April 8 in Hà Nội.

“In 12 years accompanying with the women's tournament, Thái Sơn Bắc is proud to play our part in the success of the competitions and the national team's achievement. At the same time, we are honour to be a close partner of the VFF as Thái Sơn Bắc is one of the longest-standing sponsors of a national football tournament managed by VFF," he said.

"During these years, we have witnessed the ups and downs of women's football. We have wondered, wished and hoped to push it to reach the international level.

"Thái Sơn Bắc is an enterprise, like many others, we also go through difficult times. However, we always know our responsibility to contribute to social activities. We have made great efforts to accompany Vietnamese football, especially women's football."

Minh hoped that the company would help the tournament be a quality event for players. It would be a boost for talents and the national team to get higher results internationally.

VFF General Secretary Dương Nghiệp Khôi thanked Thái Sơn Bắc Company for their strong support. He hoped that in the future other enterprises would join hands to develop women's football. VNS