Vietnam could play a friendly match against Iraq in October. (Photo: AFC) Hanoi (VNA) – To prepare for theresumption of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, the Iraqi Football Association(IFA) wants to host a friendly match between its national team and Vietnam.
The information was confirmed by the SecretaryGeneral of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Le Hoai Anh.
Anh said the IFA sent an invitation to theVietnamese team to play the game on October 8. A location for the match is yetto be agreed.
Anh said: “The IFA wants its national team toplay in Vietnam, but the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Preventionand Control has only allowed some foreigners to come to Vietnam, so the VFFwill continuously follow and update the latest information.
“The VFF must wait to get consent from theGovernment to be allowed to organise the international friendlies in Vietnam.”
In early June, the Asian Football Confederationannounced the return schedule of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. As the pandemicprevention situation has stabilised, many teams in Asia began planning to findfriendly opponents to warm up.
The Iraqi media also recently revealed thatthe IFA has planned for the Iraqi team to play three friendly matches for theWorld Cup qualifiers.
The IFA sent an invitation to the VFF,right after Vietnam received much praise from the international mediafor its efforts to bring back professional football.
The Iraqi team will play against Jordan onSeptember 8, followed by a match against Syria on September 16
Earlier this year, Iraq was due to play Vietnam,but the match had to be cancelled because of the pandemic.
Vietnam’s next World Cup qualifier will beaway against Malaysia on October 13./.
VNA
