Changing competition format of AFC Cup 2021 could benefit Hanoi FC

V.League 1 runners-up Hanoi FC are set to gain an advantage when participating in next year’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup 2021 following organisers moving to change the competition format.

V.League 1 runners-up Hanoi FC are set to gain an advantage when participating in next year’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup 2021 following organisers moving to change the competition format.

  

Hanoi FC footballer (R) plays in the AFC Cup 2019

The AFC have decided to change the format of the AFC Cup’s group stage and knockout rounds in an effort to guarantee safety amid the global spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The changes will see the group stage shortened, with teams only playing a single game in each round as opposed to the usual home and away ties.

A similar competition format will also be applied in the knock-out stage, including the final. All matches will therefore be held at centralised venues that will be decided by the AFC.

As a result of the changes, Hanoi FC will potentially only compete in nine matches at the AFC Cup 2021 instead of 14 matches that they did in the 2019 version of the tournament.

The group stage of the AFC Cup 2021 in the Southeast Asian region is scheduled to begin from June 22, 2021.

The 2019 version of the tournament saw Hanoi FC make it to the final inter-regional match of the AFC Cup.