Vietnam’s opponents gear up for Asian Cup

Vietnam’s Nguyen Van Toan (number 9) tries to get the ball from Wataru Endo during the Asian Cup quarterfinal against Japan in 2019. Photo by VnExpress/Hieu Luong

Indonesia have arranged two friendly matches with Libya on Jan. 2 and 5 next year, during their training trip in Turkey. After that, they will travel to Qatar to play a friendly match against Iran on Jan. 9.

Also in Qatar, Iraq have scheduled a friendly match with South Korea on Jan. 6, so had to decline an invitation to play Egypt, a team who are also preparing for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Meanwhile, Japan play a friendly against Thailand on Jan. 1 at home.

Vietnam have not confirmed any exhibitions, but plan to play a closed-door friendly in Qatar.

Coach Philippe Troussier and the team are expected to gather in Hanoi on Dec. 28. The team will have one week of training before heading to Qatar early to get acquainted with the weather and pitch.

The Asian Football Confederation has requested teams to submit their preliminary lists of 50 players for Asian Cup by Dec. 12. The final squad of 23 players for the tournament will be confirmed on Jan. 2, 2024.

Japan have confirmed that they will have their strongest squad, featuring stars currently playing in Europe, such as Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton & Hove Albion) and Wataru Endo (Liverpool).

Their only concern is Arsenal’s defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, who is recovering from an injury and will need about a month to return and get fit.

Iraq have completed the naturalization process for some players in Europe, notably the 18-year-old forward Montader Madjed, who previously represented Sweden’s U17 and U19 teams.

Indonesia have already submitted their preliminary list of 50 players, including 20-year-old defender Justin Hubner, who plays for Wolverhampton in the English Premier League.

The Asian Cup will be held from Jan. 12 to Feb. 10, 2024, at nine stadiums in five cities in Qatar.

The 24 participating teams will be divided into six groups, with the top two teams of each group and the four best third-placed teams advancing to the round of 16.

In Group D, Vietnam will start their campaign against the defending runners-up, Japan, on Jan. 14 at Al Thumama Stadium. They will face Indonesia at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium on Jan. 19 and Iraq at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on Jan. 24.