Culture - Sports

Vietnamese team to play friendly matches against India, Lebanon

The Vietnamese national team is scheduled to play friendly matches against India and Lebanon on FIFA Days in October.

The Vietnamese national team seen at a recent training session (Photo VFF)
The Vietnamese national team seen at a recent training session (Photo VFF)

Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The Vietnamese national team is scheduled to play friendly matches against India and Lebanon on FIFA Days in October.

"We have invited India and Lebanon to be friendly opponents of the Vietnamese team. The details are currently being finalised before an official announcement," said Duong Nghiep Khoi, General Secretary of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has also confirmed that their national team will travel to Vietnam to compete in the international friendly tournament organised by the VFF, though the specific location has not yet been chosen.

India and Lebanon are ranked 124th and 117th, respectively, in the latest FIFA rankings, so compared to Vietnam's ranking of 116th, they are considered to be at a similar level.

The Vietnamese team defeated India 3-0 in a friendly match at Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City in 2022, which was when Korean coach Park Hang-seo introduced quality players like Khuat Van Khang and Pham Dinh Duy.

Park is currently one of the candidates for the vacant head coach position of the Indian national team, after India parted ways with coach Igor Stimac for failing to lead the team to the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Asia.

The AIFF may consider appointing coach Park, given his successful tenure with Vietnam from 2017 to 2023, which included a runner-up spot at the AFC U23 Championship, winning the AFF Cup 2018, reaching the quarter-finals of the 2019 Asian Cup, and securing Vietnam's first-ever third-round World Cup qualification, as well as two gold medals at the SEA Games.

With the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers approaching, finding high-quality friendly opponents is crucial for Vietnam, India and Lebanon, as they aim to accumulate points and improve their FIFA rankings to secure favourable seedings for upcoming competitions.

The VFF hopes that the October FIFA Days will be an important opportunity for Vietnam's coach Kim Sang-sik and his team to prepare for the 2024 ASEAN Cup, which will begin in November.

Under coach Kim's leadership, Vietnam won 3-2 against the Philippines and lost 1-3 to Iraq in the final round of the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup./.

VNA
#Vietnamese national team #FIFA Days #All India Football Federation #friendly matches #India #Lebanon
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

Illustrative photo (Photo: vff.org.vn)

Twenty-seven football players called for FIFA Days

Coach of the national football team Kim Sang Sik has called 27 players for training ahead of FIFA Days in June and the last two matches within the second round of 2026 FIFA World Cup AFC qualification in Asia, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) said on May 27.

Brazilian football legends to land in Da Nang

Brazilian football legends to land in Da Nang

Brazilian football legends including Dunga, Rivaldo, Lucio, Edmilson, Kleber, Giovani, Zé Carlos, and Paulo Sergio will feature in the Brazil-Vietnam Football Festival 2024 in the central beach city of Da Nang in April.

See more

The “Vietnam Pavilion” at Aldea Global 2026 (Photo: VNA)

World Cup 2026: Vietnam leaves distinct mark at global cultural showcase

The “Vietnam Pavilion” at Aldea Global 2026 offers Mexican visitors and international guests an opportunity to explore the country’s rich cultural heritage, history and people through exhibitions, tourism promotion activities, traditional arts presentations and displays of representative cultural products.

Michelin Guide Vietnam recognises 11 one-Michelin star restaurants (Photo: Michelin Guide Vietnam)

Local ingredients, cultural roots propel Vietnam’s Michelin journey

One of the clearest examples is Hieu Luc, a modest fish soup eatery on Hai Ba Trung Street in Hanoi, which has been included in the Michelin Selected category for the second consecutive year. Known for its clear, delicately sweet broth made from freshwater perch and mustard greens, the restaurant serves a traditional specialty from Hung Yen province.

Delegates attending the ASEAN City Leaders Conference 2026 visit the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long on June 9. (Photo: VNA)

ASEAN city leaders explore Hanoi’s heritage sites

At the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, delegates visited the Doan Mon Gate and learnt about the formation and development of the ancient capital through different historical periods at display spaces. They also explored the Kinh Thien Palace’s Dragon Steps (large stone steps with dragon carvings), regarded as the political and ceremonial centre of the imperial citadel during successive Vietnamese dynasties.

Ly Hoang Nam is Asia's No. 1 pickleball player. (Photo: webthethao.vn)

Ly Hoang Nam tops Asian pickleball rankings

Vietnam boasts five players in the DUPR Asian top 10, with Nam leading the rankings on 6,267 points ahead of competitors from the Philippines, India, Hong Kong (China) and Chinese Taipei.

Visitors to the booth of the Vietnamese Embassy at the Embassies Food and Culture Festival held in Prague, the Czech Republic, on June 6 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese culture, cuisine leave lasting impression in Czech Republic

Featuring more than 100 booths representing diverse cultures from around the world, the festival transformed the heart of Prague into a vibrant multicultural space where visitors could sample traditional dishes, enjoy folk performances, listen to traditional music and experience unique cultural showcases from different continents.

Vietnamese artists play traditional musical instruments at the festival held in Karlovy Vary city, the Czech Republic, on June 5. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam culture, cuisine showcased in Czech Republic

The festival featured more than 20 booths offering traditional Vietnamese dishes, including "pho" and spring rolls, alongside activities promoting Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditonal long dress). One of the highlights was the presentation of complimentary Ao Dai to Czech residents and international visitors.

The Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) imperial throne, a recognised national treasure of Vietnam, officially returns to public display at Thai Hoa Palace in Hue Imperial Citadel on June 4 (Photo: VNA)

Nguyen Dynasty throne returns to Hue Imperial Citadel after restoration

The throne has been reinstated at its original central position inside Thai Hoa Palace, the ceremonial heart of the former imperial court. Its return has attracted significant interest from visitors and heritage enthusiasts eager to see one of Vietnam’s most important royal artefacts back on display.

People join the “Ho Van Lantern Festival Night” programme at the special national relic site of the Van Mieu–Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature) in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)

Night-time economy drives growth of Hanoi’s cultural industries

Under the Politburo’s Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW on the development of Vietnamese culture, Hanoi has been given fresh opportunities to leverage its cultural, historical, tourism and creative assets. The city’s recently approved project on developing the night-time economy for 2026–2030, with a vision to 2045, is expected to create momentum for cultural industry growth while enhancing Hanoi’s standing as a creative and modern city with a distinctive identity.