SLNA does not meet Asian professional standards

Specifically, 5 teams qualified to participate in the continental club level playground include Hanoi Club, Becamex Binh Duong, SHB Da Nang, Than Quang Ninh and Sana Khanh Hoa Vietnam Sea.

Tien Ve Quang Tinh is still practicing diligently when returning to compete for SLNA this season. Photo: Duc Anh

Of which, Hanoi FC, Becamex Binh Duong and SHB Da Nang are the 3 clubs that are qualified and meet the standards to participate in the highest level of Asian club competition, AFC Champions League. The remaining two teams, Than Quang Ninh and Sana Khanh Hoa BVN, meet the minimum standards and requirements to participate in the AFC Cup.

Compared to other years, the number of clubs qualified to participate in the continental playground of Vietnamese football has not changed, the only change is when B.Binh Duong and SHB Da Dang replace the positions of Thanh Hoa and SLNA.

In Southeast Asia, the number of AFC qualified clubs has increased significantly compared to previous years. Specifically: Thailand has 9 teams, Malaysia has 8 teams, Indonesia has 10 teams and Myanmar has 11 teams qualified to participate in the Asian Club Championship.

The first condition for clubs to be able to participate in continental tournaments is that the clubs must have youth teams participating in tournaments from U13 to U21, in which the U17 tournament is a mandatory condition for teams that want to have the opportunity to play in continental tournaments with the goal of sustainable development for continental football. In addition, there will be other criteria regarding the stadium and location of the club to consider the conditions.

The Vietnamese clubs participating in this year's continental club tournament are Hanoi FC and Becamex Binh Duong, as these two teams won the V.League championship and the National Cup.

In the first qualifying round, there will be 3 pairs: 1 from West Asia and 2 from East Asia.

Thailand National Team. Photo: AFC

The two East Asian matches are all internal matches between Southeast Asian teams: Ceres-Negros (Philippines) vs Yangon United (Myanmar) and Home United (Singapore) vs Persija Jakarta (Indonesia). These are the four teams that have reached the semi-finals of the East Asian zone of the 2018 AFC Cup. The three winners of the first qualifying round will join 13 other clubs in the second qualifying round on February 12. In this round, each of the East Asian and West Asian zones will have four matches.

Notably, the representative of the reigning V-League champion Hanoi FC will visit the home field of the reigning Thai League champion Bangkok United FC. The two Southeast Asian teams that won the first qualifying round will also have to visit the home field of Chiangrai United (Thailand) and Newcastle Jets (Australia). Meanwhile, the runner-up of the 2018 Malaysian Super League, Perak FC, will have home field advantage when hosting Kitchee (Hong Kong - China).

The challenge for Southeast Asian teams will be even greater if they pass the second qualifying round when they will have to face strong teams from the continent's leading football backgrounds such as Korea, Japan or China in the third qualifying round (playing on February 19).

List of Southeast Asian clubs meeting AFC standards in 2019:

Indonesia(10): Persija Jakarta, Bali United, Persib Bandung, Borneo FC, Arema FC, Barito Putera, Bhayangkara, PSM Makassar, Madura United, Persipura

Malaysia(8): Terengganu, Perak, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, PKNS, Melaka, Selangor

Myanmar(11): Yangon United, Zwekapin United, Yadanarbon, Magwe, Rakhine United, Shan United, Hantharwad United, Southern Myanmar, Ayeyawady United, Dagon FC

Philippines(3): Kaya FC, Davao Aguilas, Ceres Negros

Singapore(5): Home United, Tampines Rovers, Geyland International, Balestier Khalsa, Hougang United

Thailand(9): Buriram United, True Bangkok United, Muangthong United, Port FC, Chiangrai United, Chonburi, Sukhothai, Suphanburi, Bangkok Glass

Vietnam(5): Hanoi Club, SHB Da Nang, Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN, B.Binh Duong, Than Quang Ninh