Vietnam national team to play hosts Thailand in King's Cup 2019 opener

ABO/NDO – The Vietnam senior football team will face hosts Thailand in their opening match of the 47th King’s Cup, which is scheduled to take place at the beginning of June, according to the draw for the international tournament to be held in Bangkok on May 8.

Vietnam will face their arch rivals Thailand in the opening match of the 47th King’s Cup next month. (Photo: Vietnam Football Federation).

Held annually by the Football Association of Thailand since 1968, this year’s tournament sees the participation of four teams, including Curacao, India, Vietnam and hosts Thailand.

According to the draw results, coach Park Hang-seo’s side will met the hosts in their opening match at 7:45 pm (local time) at Chang Arena in Buriram on June 6, while India will take on Curacao at the same venue earlier the same day.

The two eliminated teams will then play in a third-place play-off on June 8, while the two winners in the opening matches will compete in the final in Buriram later on the same day.

The tournament is considered as a useful warm-up for Park and his players in preparation for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers later this year. It is also under the schedule of FIFA’s international matches, so the results of King’s Cup matches will directly affect the teams’ ranking in the next FIFA men’s world standings.

It is expected that, in the third week of May, Park will announce the list for the Vietnam national team. The squad are scheduled to gather on June 1, after the players finish matchday 12 of the V.League 2019 to prepare for the Thailand-based competition.

It is the second time Vietnam will take part in the King’s Cup after the 2006 tournament, when the Golden Dragons finished second after losing 3-1 to the hosts in the final. Striker Phan Thanh Binh scored the only goal for Vietnam in the match and earned the top scorer title with three goals.

(Source: NDO)