Vaccinated fans allowed to attend Vietnam's World Cup qualifiers

After a meeting with Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Health and Hanoi authorities Wednesday afternoon, Vietnam Football Federation (VFF)’s request to exempt away teams from quarantine was approved. Therefore, Vietnam will get to play their home games at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi instead of centralized venues.

Depending on the pandemic situation, organizers will decide whether to allow spectators at the games. But one sure thing is spectators would have to strictly follow prevention measures and meet requirements like being vaccinated and testing negative for Covid-19.

When the second round of World Cup qualifiers took place in June, Asian Football Confederation allowed a limited number of spectators at the games, at around 30 percent stadium capacity.

Besides vaccination of two doses and negative Covid-19 results 48 hours before the game, organizers only allowed those above 16 inside the stadium. Spectators must be in normal condition without coughing or fever, wear face masks, keep a distance between seats and avoid leaving their seats throughout the game.

Vietnam will play five home games during the World Cup qualifiers with Australia on Sept. 7, Japan on Nov. 11, Saudi Arabia on Nov. 16, China on Feb. 1, and Oman on March 24.

The nation has vaccinated more than 4.14 million of its 96-million population against Covid, with 286,772 having received two doses.