Vietnamese fans at My Dinh Nationwide Stadium in Hanoi. (Photo: VnExpress)

VFF sent the proposal to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Hanoi People’s Committee for approval, with the plan to organize the game with Japan on November 11 and Saudi Arabia on the 16th with spectators. VFF suggested that the number of spectators should take up 50% of My Dinh Stadium’s full capacity of 40,000 seats.

The requirements to watch the games in the stadium are being fully vaccinated and having a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours.

Vietnam played their first home game of the final World Cup qualifying round on September 7, losing 0-1 to Australia. That game took place at My Dinh without spectators because the city was still in the social distancing period at the time.

Hanoi started relaxing restrictions in late September, and starting Thursday, allowed on-site dining and reopening of parks, hotels and public transportation.

Teams like Oman, Japan and Saudi Arabia have allowed spectators in their home games.

This is Vietnam’s very first time at the final round of World Cup qualifiers. The team are currently at the bottom of group B after losing the first four games.