FIFA has agreed to change the date of the match between Vietnam and Thailand in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification after the two countries raised concerns it interfered with commitments for the 28th SEA Games.

Coach Miura to lead Vietnam team to Bangkok

Both football federations sought to reschedule the June 11 qualifier for the 2018 World Cup because they will be competing in the SEA Games from May 29 to June 15.

FIFA accepted and the qualifier will now be held on May 24 in Bangkok.

Coach Toshiya Miura, who had planned to concentrate on the SEA Games, can now use the qualifier to better prepare his team for the tournament.

Vietnam Football Federation secretary Le Hoai Anh said the World Cup is a distant goal, and success at the SEA Games is seen as a more practical achievement. But Miura is keen to give his team more exposure on the international pitch.

The Executive Committee of Asian Football Confederation approved on 16 April last year merging the preliminary qualification rounds of the AFC Asian Cup with the qualification rounds of the FIFA World Cup.

The Asian section of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification will also act as a qualifier for the 2019 Asian Cup.