AFC Names 5 Special Matches In The 2023 Asian Cup Group Phase, Including The Indonesian National Team Vs Vietnam

The meeting between the Indonesian national team and Vietnam entered a special match for the 2023 Asian Cup group phase according to AFC (doc. PSSI).

JAKARTA - The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) alluded to the five special matches that will occur in the 2023 Asian Cup group stage. The Indonesian vs Vietnam national team match is included in it.

The AFC called the meeting between the Indonesian national team and Vietnam a special match because for the first time this Southeast Asian rival met in the 2023 Asian Cup.

The two teams are in Group D with Iraq and Japan. The Indonesian and Vietnamese national teams will meet on the group's second matchday on Friday, January 19, 2024.

"Vietnam and Indonesia are two teams that don't need to be introduced to each other. These two teams have been face-to-face in Southeast Asia for years."

"Most recently, the two teams met in the 2022 AFF Cup semifinals," wrote the AFC on their official website, quoted Wednesday, January 10, 2024.

"This match is in the special category because for the first time in 52 years of the Asian Cup, the two teams from Southeast Asia met," the report continued.

The winner of the Indonesia vs Vietnam national team is most likely to be able to compete for tickets to the last 16 of the 2023 Asian Cup.

The reason is, according to the applicable regulations, in addition to the group winners and runners-up, there are four of the best third-placed teams that can qualify for the last 16.

The Garuda and Golden Star squads seem to have a big chance of fighting for the best third place. You see, winners and runners-up in Group D are predicted to be a battle for Japan and Iraq.

The match between the Indonesian vs Vietnam national team is certain to be exciting. Moreover, if you look at the background of the two teams.

Vietnam has qualified capital because it has penetrated the quarter-finals of the 2007 and 2019 Asian Cup editions, while Indonesia has never passed the group stage.

Apart from the Indonesia vs Vietnam national team match, four other matches called the AFC became spatial matches in the 2023 Asian Cup group phase, namely Qatar vs Lebanon, Iran vs United Arab Emirates, Australia vs Uzbekistan, and Saudi Arabia vs Thailand.

The Qatar vs Lebanon match will be more special because it will be the opening match of the 2023 Asian Cup. This match will be held on Friday, January 12, 2024, at 23.00 WIB.