HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam will play Hong Kong in the first match of a four-sided tournament in Myanmar on June 3.

In another match the hosts will face Singapore. Two winners will advance to the final, while those who lose will play in the third-place play-offs two days later. The champions will walk away with US$20,000.

Hong Kong are No 142 in the world, while Việt Nam are No 144. In their four meetings in the past, Việt Nam won three. In their latest match two years ago Việt Nam won 3-1.

Both teams entered the 2019 Asian Cup qualifying third round, but failed to advance to the third qualification round of the 2018 World Cup.

The Myanmar tournament will help the regional teams prepare for the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup later this year.

The Vietnamese players will be summoned on May 23 for the tournament. They will have a friendly match against Syria a week later.

Coach Nguyễn Hữu Thắng is currently visiting national stadiums on the hunt for new players. Thắng said not just Thailand, but some other teams in the region such as the Philippines, Myanmar and Malaysia, had been gaining strength.

After the Myanmar tournament, players will return to their clubs and gather again in late September. They may also go abroad for intensive practice.

The cup will start in November, with Myanmar and the Philippines as co-hosts. — VNS