AFF announces schedule for 2020 tournament

By Dang Khoa September 27, 2020 | 04:52 pm PT

Coach Park Hang-seo lifts the AFF Cup as he celebrates the victory with Vietnamese players at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, December 15, 2018. Photo by VnExpress/Minh Kha.

The ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) has announced that the biennial 2020 AFF Cup will be played from April 11 to May 8 next year.

The 13th edition, originally scheduled for November-December this year, has been delayed over concerns of Covid-19 spread.

"This latest decision has been taken with a firm intention to stage the Championship in its full format - played on a home and away basis across the qualifying nations in Southeast Asia - provided that the conditions relating to Covid-19 allow [it]," the AFF said in a statement Friday.

Vietnam are the reigning champions after defeating Malaysia with a 3-2 aggregate in the AFF Cup final at Hanoi's My Dinh Stadium on December 15, 2018. It was their first AFF Cup title since 2008.

Before they go to the AFF Cup, the Vietnamese men team will play in 2022 the World Cup qualifiers with their next match against Malaysia set for March 2021.