After the conclusion of the 2019 Asian Cup mission, Park had a working session with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) concerning his plans related to the national team, the participation of Vietnam’s U22s in the 2019 AFF U22 Championship, and the Vietnam U22 lineup for the 2020 AFC U23 qualification.
Later this year, Vietnam’s national team will play qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup, while the Vietnam U22 squad kick-start their hunt for the missing SEA Games men’s football gold medal in the Philippines.
As planned, the Republic of Korea tactician will attend two V.League matches, Hanoi FC-Quang Ninh FC at Hang Day Stadium on February 23, and SHB Da Nang-Viettel FC at Hoa Xuan Stadium the following day. These are the clashes with the presence of many national team members and young talents.
Previously, Park cancelled his plan to watch the Vietnam U22 team’s journey at the ongoing AFF U22 Championship in the Philippines. Instead, his assistants will follow the tournament and inform the head coach on details about potential players.
The head coach will continue to watch several more V.League rounds before finalising his Vietnam U22 lineup in preparation for the 2020 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers, to be held at Hanoi’s My Dinh National Stadium from March 22 to 26.
The five-day tournament sees Vietnam drawn in Group K, together with Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei. The key force of Park’s side will be seven members of the national team who recently attended the 2019 Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
The 2020 AFC U23 qualification will feature 44 participants, drawn into eleven groups of four teams. Accordingly, the eleven group winners and the four best runners-up qualify for the final tournament.