soccer federation Vietnamese (VFF) closed the opportunity to invite Indonesian national team have a test match on the agenda FIFA match day next September.

The Vietnam national team had previously scheduled matches against Singapore and India to fill the calendar of international matches next month, but the VFF must now explore other countries again following FIFA sanctions against the Indian Football Association (AIFF).

Quoted by The Thao 247, VFF has established communication with several countries to replace the position of the Indian national team in the test match.

The choice of Vietnam addressed the countries of Central and Western Asia such as Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan.

Vietnam does not look at countries in the Southeast Asian region, including Indonesia, because they see an already full agenda. The Indonesian national team has to meet Curacao in two games which will take place in September, so it is impossible to have another match.

Moreover, VFF also targets countries whose ranking is not far from their position in the FIFA rankings.

Currently, Vietnam is ranked 97th, while countries in Central and West Asia that are targeted to be adversaries are ranked in the 80s to 100s globally. While the Indonesian national team is currently ranked 155.

Vietnam hopes matches against countries ranked in the 80s to 100s in the world can be helpful in view of the 2022 AFF Cup and 2023 Asian Cup.

Previously, the Indonesian national team also included India and Hong Kong as potential opponents in September, but the choice later fell on Curacao.

(nva/nva)