Vietnam were placed in Group D of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup together with strong rivals, including Japan, Iraq, and Indonesia, according to a draw on Thursday.

The 2023 AFC Asian Cup, which was initially planned to be held in June and July of 2023, has been rescheduled to take place from January 12 to February 10, 2024 in Qatar, for China withdrew as the original hosts due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in the country.

The 24 teams competing in the Asian Cup will participate in a round-robin format in six groups. 

The top two teams from each group, as well as the four best-performing third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 16.

The presence of formidable opponents such as Japan and Iraq in the same group as Vietnam means that the team will need to consider the possibility of securing a place in the next round as one of the four best-performing third-placed teams.

Japan have won the Asian Cup a record four times and finished as the runners-up in the tournament four years ago while Iraq are the 2007 champions.

Qatar, the reigning champions and the host nation, will compete in Group A alongside China, Tajikistan, and Lebanon.

Group B features 2015 champions Australia alongside Uzbekistan, Syria, and India while three-time champions Iran will challenge the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and Palestine in Group C.

South Korea, seeking to win the title for the first time since 1960, are grouped with Malaysia, Jordan, and Bahrain in Group E, while Saudi Arabia, who have won the title three times, with the most recent in 1996, will face Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, and Oman in Group F.

Vietnam’s best result at the Asian Cup was playing the quarterfinals in 2007 and 2019.

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