The Lebanon national football team has officially confirmed that they will be unable to travel to Vietnam for the scheduled FIFA Days matches in October 2024. In an official statement, they also extended their sincere apologies to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) for this unfortunate change.
The original plan for the FIFA Days international tournament, set to take place at Thien Truong Stadium, included two key matches for the Vietnam national team. Vietnam was scheduled to face India and Lebanon as part of their preparation for upcoming international competitions. The absence of Lebanon from this schedule has left VFF in a challenging position, with only a few days left before the FIFA Days matches are set to begin.
The international friendly tournament was intended to offer Vietnam the opportunity to fine-tune their squad and test various tactics under the guidance of coach Kim Sang Sik. These matches are considered critical for Vietnam’s long-term preparation as they gear up for bigger tournaments such as the World Cup 2026 qualifiers and the AFC Asian Cup. The inclusion of Lebanon, a strong footballing nation in the Middle East, was expected to provide Vietnam with a high-level competitive match, making their withdrawal even more disappointing for the team and the fans.
Currently, the fixture against India is still confirmed to take place as scheduled. India’s national team is known for their physical strength and disciplined play, making the upcoming match a valuable opportunity for Vietnam to test themselves. However, Lebanon’s absence leaves a gap in the schedule that VFF must now address urgently. The challenge for VFF is finding a replacement team on such short notice to ensure that the Vietnamese squad gets the international exposure they need.
With only three days remaining before the FIFA Days officially begin, no official announcement has been made yet by VFF regarding a replacement team. The absence of Lebanon means that VFF must act quickly to secure another opponent to avoid a gap in Vietnam’s match schedule, which would disrupt the team’s momentum. Securing an alternative team from the region or even outside Asia would provide the Vietnam national team with a valuable match experience, especially as the team looks to build cohesion and test various player combinations ahead of more significant tournaments.
The loss of this match against Lebanon also impacts Vietnam’s fanbase, who were eagerly anticipating seeing the national team play against a higher-ranked opponent at home. The Thien Truong Stadium was expected to host both matches, and the atmosphere at the venue, known for its passionate football supporters, would have provided an electric backdrop for the games.
As of now, fans and the national team await further updates from VFF, hoping that a replacement team can be secured to maintain the competitive schedule during the FIFA Days period. The October friendlies remain an essential step in Vietnam’s preparation as they strive to strengthen their squad for upcoming challenges on the Asian and world football stages.
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