The National Futsal HDBank Championship is scheduled to begin on June 1 after a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.—Photo: vff.org.vn

HCM CITY — The National Futsal HDBank Championship is scheduled to kick off on June 1 in Nha Trang in Khánh Hòa Province.

At a press meeting on Tuesday, the organisers of the tournament, Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and The Voice of Việt Nam (VOV), said the tournament would be divided into two stages with the participation of 12 teams, including a new team from Đắc Lắk Province.

The first stage, taking place from June 1-9 in Khánh Hòa’s Nha Trang City, will see competitions among teams Sanna Khánh Hoà, Tân Hiệp Hưng, Cao Bằng, Quảng Nam, Việt Football, and Hưng Gia Khang Đắk Lắk. They will compete in a round robin format to decide the four teams to join the second stage.

The second stage will be held from June 14 to July 5 in Nha Trang and from September 5 to 26 at the Lãnh Bình Thăng gymnasium in HCM City’s District 11 with the participation of the four winners in the first stage and the top six teams from last year’s National Futsal HDBank Championships, which include Thái Sơn Nam, Sahako, Sanvinest Sanatech Khánh Hòa, Kasiachian Sài Gòn FC, Đà Nẵng, and Thái Sơn Bắc.

The winner of the tournament will represent Việt Nam at the AFC Futsal Championships 2020.

Last year, Thái Sơn Nam took the trophy, and the runners-up were Sahacon and Sanvinest Sanatech Khánh Hòa.

The organiser has also announced that the National Futsal HDBank Cup will kick off in the Central Highlands province of Đắk Lắk from October 5 to 20.

Both tournaments are sponsored by HD Bank. Winner of the National Futsal HDBank Championship will receive the VNĐ500 million (US$21,400) prize.

This is the fourth time that VFF has worked with VOV to organise the tournament.

Cao Văn Chóng, deputy chairman of VFF, promised to work with VOV to ensure safety and success during the COVID-19 pandemic. — VNS