National Futsal Championship 2020 opens

The 2020 National Futsal Championship officially kick-started on June 14 in the central province of Khanh Hoa with the participation of 10 teams.

Sanatech Khanh Hoa are held to a 1-1 draw with Da Nang. (Photo: VNA)
Sanatech Khanh Hoa are held to a 1-1 draw with Da Nang. (Photo: VNA)

The annual tournament, the second sporting event to be resume activities in Vietnam after months of disruption due to COVID-19, is divided into two stages.

The first stage (qualification) took place from June 1-9 in Nha Trang City and featured competition among six teams. The four teams of Quang Nam, Cao Bang, Vietfootball, and Sanna Khanh Hoa progressed to the second stage.

Stage 2 brings together 10 teams, including the top six finishers of the 2019 season and the four best teams from the first stage, who will play in a two-legged round robin tournament to decide the overall champions. The first leg is scheduled from June 14 to July 5 in Nha Trang, and the second will be held between September 5 and 26 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Two first matches took place after the opening ceremony. Sanatech Khanh Hoa were held to a 1-1 draw with Da Nang while the match between Quang Nang and Cao Bang had the same score.

The title winners will receive the trophy and a prize of VND500 million (US$21,524) and will represent Vietnam in the 2020 AFC Futsal Club Championships, while the runners-up will be awarded VND200 million and will also compete in the 2020 AFF Futsal Club Championships. The third-placed team will take a cash prize of VND100 million.

In addition, the organising committee will present the fair-play prize worth VND40 million, and three VND15 million packages to the most valuable player, the top scorer and the best goalkeeper of the tournament.