AFC requests upgrade of My Dinh national stadium

The Vietnam Football Federation (AFF) was told by AFC that My Dinh's pitch conditions, lighting system and functioning rooms were at poor quality and had affected the game between Vietnam and Australia on Sept. 7. AFC urged VFF to improve the stadium before the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

VFF has reported the issue to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Department of Physical Education and Sports. Since Wednesday, renovations have been carried out to prepare for Vietnam’s next home game in November.

Built in 2003, My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi has suffered deterioration over many years.

Australia coach Graham Arnold had criticized the poor pitch conditions of the stadium, with some Australian fans even calling it a "cow paddock".

This is Vietnam’s first time ever in the final round of World Cup qualifiers. In the first two games, they lost 1-3 to Saudi Arabia and 0-1 to Australia. Coach Park Hang-seo's team will face China on Oct. 7 and Oman five days later, before returning to My Dinh to play Japan on Nov. 11.