The national men’s football team will play a friendly match with Kyrgyzstan (pictured) on March 26 instead of Iraq. — Photo baomoi.com

HÀ NỘI — The national men’s football team will play a friendly match with Kyrgyzstan on March 26 instead of Iraq, the Việt Nam Football Federation (VFF) has announced.

Việt Nam was supposed to face Iraq in the friendly match in preparation for the fixture with Malaysia in the Asian zone’s second qualifying round for the 2022 World Cup on March 31, but the Iraq Football Association cancelled the match because of fears relating to the COVID-19 epidemic.

According to Trần Quốc Tuấn, deputy chairman of the VFF, general secretary of Kyrgyzstan Football Federation Mederbek Sydykov confirmed the national team would play Việt Nam on schedule.

At present, Kyrgyzstan are world No 96, while Việt Nam are in 94th position.

In the qualifying round of the World Cup 2022, Kyrgyzstan are in Group F with Japan, Tajikistan, Myanmar and Mongolia.

After five matches, Kyrgyzstan have seven points to rank second in the group, behind Japan who have 12 points.

Việt Nam are currently at the top of group G in the World Cup qualifiers, followed by Malaysia, Thailand, UAE and Indonesia.

In this match, head coach Park Hang-seo will not be able to sit on the touch line to direct his team because the South Korean coach has been punished by the Asian Football Confederation.

The AFC suspended him from four friendly matches after he received a red card in the 2019 SEA Games men's football final in the Philippines last December for confronting referees.

The upcoming friendly will take place at Thống Nhất Stadium or Bình Dương Stadium. — VNS