AFF Cup 2024 schedule adjustment sparks major changes for Vietnam football

The organizing committee’s decision to adjust the schedule of the AFF Cup 2024, now rebranded as the ASEAN Championship, is set to trigger a series of changes for the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), the V-League 2024-2025 organizers, and the Vietnam national football team.

The Southeast Asian Football Federation (AFF) is considering rescheduling the AFF Cup 2024 to avoid a clash with the AFC’s club competitions, such as the AFC Champions League Elite (formerly the AFC Champions League) and AFC Champions League 2 (formerly the AFC Cup). Initially scheduled to take place from November 23 to December 21, the tournament is now proposed to start on December 9 and conclude with the final on January 5, 2025. This change aims to alleviate concerns about clubs refusing to release players for the AFF Cup, as it does not fall under the FIFA Days calendar. By moving the tournament closer to the international winter break, it could also attract more star players currently playing in Europe and East Asian clubs. The adjustment is particularly beneficial for Indonesia, allowing their team more time to recover after the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

In response to these changes, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) held discussions with the Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF) and Vietnam national team head coach Kim Sang-sik to plan appropriate adjustments. The priority is to ensure the best preparation for the Vietnam national team without compromising the quality of the V-League 2024-2025 season. After the FIFA Days in September and October, the national team will not convene in November, allowing the V-League to run continuously until November 21.

Vietnam national team will coordinate with the V-League to ensure the best preparation for the 2024 AFF Cup.

It is anticipated that after November 21, Coach Kim Sang-sik will assemble the Vietnam national team, with plans for a training camp in South Korea before competing in the AFF Cup 2024. Following the tournament, the players will return to their clubs to complete the final three rounds before the V-League takes a break for the Lunar New Year holiday in 2025. According to this plan, the V-League is expected to kick off on September 14, after the national team plays two friendlies during the September FIFA Days. Except for the October FIFA Days (when Vietnam is scheduled to play friendlies against India and Lebanon on October 9 and 15), the league will continue uninterrupted until November 21.

This scheduling approach resolves the potential conflict between the V-League and the Vietnam national team. While Coach Kim Sang-sik and his team will forego the November FIFA Days, they will have a full month and a half to focus solely on preparing for and competing in the AFF Cup, which could extend to January 5, 2025, if they reach the final. On the other hand, the first half of the V-League 2024-2025 season, apart from the September FIFA Days, will proceed continuously without the interruptions seen in previous seasons.

For the AFF Cup 2024, the Vietnam national team will continue to use My Dinh Stadium as their home ground, where they previously defeated Indonesia 2-0 in the semifinals and drew 1-1 with Thailand in the AFF Cup 2022 final. However, there is a possibility that VFF might need to consider alternative venues, such as Lach Tray or Thien Truong Stadiums, if My Dinh is occupied by major events at the end of 2024. Overall, the Vietnam national team will still receive the best possible support to prepare for the AFF Cup, while the V-League ensures that players maintain their competitive momentum with continuous matches.

These changes highlight the VFF’s and VPF’s commitment to balancing the demands of international competition with the domestic league’s integrity. As the footballing calendar becomes increasingly complex, strategic scheduling will be crucial in maintaining the performance levels of both the national team and the clubs involved. With the new AFF Cup dates, Vietnamese football is poised for a challenging yet exciting period, where the careful coordination of schedules will be key to success.

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