In the tough second qualification round, Vietnam are in the second seeding pot and will be grouped with one of the top-seeded teams in the first pot -- Iran, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Qatar, the UAE, and China – when the draw is made.

Statistics show Vietnam has a chance to defeat three out of eight top teams in Asia at the second round of World Cup qualification.

But data from InStat, a sports performance analysis company, shows Vietnam can potentially win against three out of the eight. They have a 65 percent chance to win against China, 60 percent against Saudi Arabia and 50 percent against the UAE.

The winning chances are computed based on stats like the number of goals, conversion rate, on-target shots, number of passes, defense win, and aerial duels and successful tackle rates.

InStat uses mathematical formulas and a team of over 300 analysts to provides data about thousands of players at more than 800 clubs and national teams around the world.

The analysis system costs the Vietnam Football Federation $20,000. It provides all conceivable metric about players such as the number of finishes, short passes, long passes, and range and length of movement during training and in games.

The InStat Index of Vietnam and the top eight teams in Asia in 2019.

The eight group winners and four best runners-up in the second round will advance to the third round and also automatically qualify for the 2023 Asian Cup to be played in China.

The 12 will be divided into two groups and compete for four direct slots.

The third-placed teams from the two groups will play a two-legged playoff with the winner advancing to the inter-continental playoffs against the fourth placed team in the North and Central American region for a World Cup berth.

The draw for the second round will be made in Qatar on July 17.

10 football clubs ready to compete in Vietfootball Cup 2019

The Vietfootball Cup 2019 is scheduled to take place between June 9 and August 11 in Hanoi, with a total of 10 football clubs from across the country set to participate.

List of 23 Vietnamese footballers to take part in King’s Cup announced

Vietnam’s football head coach Park Hang-seo on May 27 announced the squad for the upcoming King’s Cup in Thailand.

Vietnam football team to wear athlete tracking monitor

The Vietnam Football Federation has decided to equip the national team to play in the King’s Cup next month with sensors for tracking.

National men’s football coach visits disadvantaged students in Phu Tho

Head coach of the national men’s football team Park Hang-seo met with more than 1,000 students in Viet Tri city of the northern province of Phu Tho on May 9.

Young players, coach to attend Madrid's Football for Friendship Academy

The Promotion Fund of Vietnamese Football Talents Academy will send four athletes to Spain to train at the International Football for Friendship Academy in Madrid.

Source: VnExpress