The Vietnamese national football squad (Photo:VOV)

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has assigned the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to work with the VFF to finalize a detailed plan on the organization and management of the matches.

The news comes following the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s warning that the Vietnamese team may be forced to play their World Cup qualifiers at a neutral venue if their home venue does not meet conditions.

Amidst rising COVID-19 threats globally, the organization of international tournaments must follow special procedures of the FIFA and AFC. In addition, the organizers must also ensure the epidemic prevention and control of the host country.

Vietnam will play in Group B alongside Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China, and Oman, all of which are considered to be strong Asian powerhouses.

They will play five home and five away matches in total, with the first set of fixtures to begin in September, and the reverse fixtures to take place from November until March 2022.