Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam have been drawn in Group C forthe Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup 2019’s third qualificationround.

In the draw held on January 23 in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan,Afghanistan and Cambodia were drawn as the other Group C teams.

Twenty other squads have been divided into five other groups.

In Group C, Jordan are the strongest team with a FIFA ranking of 107 as per thelatest announcement made last week.

They were the second-placed team in Group B in the second qualification round.

Vietnam, a third-placed team in the second qualifiers, are the second rankedteam in Group C at No 136, while Afghanistan are No 151 and Cambodia at No 172.

Afghanistan are one of best fourth-placed teams from the second qualifiers,while Cambodia are in because they won the Qualifiers Play-off I for thetournament.

In the competition schedule which was also released on January 23 night, Vietnamwill first play Afghanistan away on March 28.

Two best teams from this group will join 12 others, including defendingchampions Australia, China, Iraq, Iran, Japan and the Republic of Korea, in thefinal round to be held from January 5 to February 1, 2019.

Vietnam sent two representatives, national head coach Nguyen Duc Thang andformer captain Nguyen Minh Phuong, to the drawing ceremony.

Phuong was one of two draw ambassadors assisting Shin Man Gil, ExecutiveDirector AFC Competitions Division, on the stage.

He led Vietnam to the quarter-finals of the Cup in 2007 which the countryco-hosted along with Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. He also represented thecountry in Cup 2004 and 2011 qualifiers before hanging up his boots in 2010after 73 national caps.

Phuong said: “We face big opponents but our team will do their best to win andqualify for the finals. I am confident that you will see them here in 2019.” -VNA