>>> Vietnam make history with first-ever slot in final round of World Cup qualifiers
>>> Vietnam at World Cup qualifiers – A memorable journey
The VAR is used with the aim of helping referees to make the most accurate decisions during matches. The 2018 FIFA World Cup became the first competition to use this technology in full (at all matches and in all venues).
In Asia, the VAR was first adopted from the quarter-final stage of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 before it was implemented across 32 matches at the AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020.
Despite being considered a useful tool for referees in running matches, the VAR cannot replace referees’ decisions and are only used in a number of specific situations, including determining a goal, a penalty, a direct red card, or a foul.
With the VAR depending greatly on technical infrastructure conditions, after the draw of the third qualifying round, the AFC will survey and evaluate stadiums proposed by member federations based on the VAR’s minimum requirements, ensuring the readiness to roll out the technology for matches.
Regarding member federations that do not use the VAR in their domestic leagues, the AFC will evaluate the feasibility of implementing the technology with consultation from the designated suppliers and relevant parties before issuing a final decision.
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The application of the VAR technology requires certain conditions in terms of both personnel and technical infrastructure.
In the event that the VAR cannot be rolled out in any member federation for any reason, the AFC will not consider the use of the technology in the matches hosted by that member federation. However, the failure to apply the VAR in a particular game will not affect the application of the technology in other matches. The AFC will announce decisions regarding the use of VAR at an appropriate time, after considering all options from the relevant federations’ stadium confirmation and proposals.
As scheduled, the final round of the 2022 World Cup Asian Qualifiers will commence on September 2, 2021, with the participation of 12 teams including Vietnam, Japan, Iran, Australia, the Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, China, Oman, Syria and Lebanon. The competitors will be drawn into two groups of six teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches. The top two teams of each group will directly qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the two third-placed teams will advance to the inter-continental playoff.
This is the first time Vietnam have reached the final round of the World Cup qualifiers. Park Hang-seo’s side saw them through as one of the five best runners-up in the second round of the qualifying campaign.
