
In a recent development, Thanh Hoa Football Club has officially requested to withdraw from the AFC Champions League Two for the 2024-2025 season. This request has been accepted by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) confirmed this information to VnExpress on the evening of July 20. The VFF had proposed that another Vietnamese club replace Thanh Hoa in the tournament, but this suggestion was not approved by the AFC. Consequently, Vietnam will have only one representative in the AFC Champions League Two (AFC Cup), which is Nam Dinh, the newly crowned champions of the V-League.
Impact on Vietnamese Football
The poor performances of Vietnamese teams in continental competitions have led to a decline in V-League’s ranking. This demotion means that Vietnam no longer has a slot in the AFC Champions League Elite (Asia’s premier club competition) for the 2024-2025 season. Vietnam was allotted two spots in the AFC Champions League Two: one for the V-League champion, Nam Dinh, and the other for the National Cup winner, Thanh Hoa. However, Thanh Hoa has opted out due to their congested schedule. Besides the V-League and the National Cup, the team will also compete in the ASEAN Club Championship.
New Format for AFC Champions League Two
The AFC Champions League Two will feature a new format in the 2024-2025 season. The competition will include 32 teams divided into East and West Asia zones. Nam Dinh, representing Vietnam, will compete in the East Asia zone against formidable opponents such as Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan), Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea), Zhejiang FC (China), the loser of the play-off match between Shandong Taishan (China) and Bangkok United (Thailand), Port FC (Thailand), and Sydney FC (Australia).
Upcoming Events
The group stage draw for the AFC Champions League Two will be held in mid-August, with the tournament set to kick off a month later. Nam Dinh faces a challenging path ahead but has the opportunity to showcase Vietnamese football on a continental stage.
Statements and Reactions
The VFF has expressed regret over Thanh Hoa’s withdrawal but understands the club’s reasoning. “We respect Thanh Hoa’s decision as they face a tight schedule. Our focus now is to support Nam Dinh as they represent Vietnamese football in this prestigious competition,” said a VFF spokesperson.
Thanh Hoa’s management cited the need to balance their domestic and international commitments as the primary reason for their withdrawal. “Competing in multiple tournaments is demanding, and we believe focusing on our domestic competitions and the ASEAN Club Championship is the best strategy for our club at this time,” a representative from Thanh Hoa stated.
Conclusion
While Thanh Hoa’s withdrawal is a setback, Nam Dinh now carries the hopes of Vietnamese football in the AFC Champions League Two. The VFF and fans will be eagerly watching as the team prepares to compete against some of the best clubs in Asia. The upcoming draw and the start of the competition promise to be exciting milestones in Vietnamese football’s journey on the continental stage.
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