Nam Dinh FC in group of life following AFC Champions League 2 draw

The result of the draw shows the Vietnamese team will play in Group G alongside Bangkok United FC of Thailand, Lee Man FC of Hong Kong (China), and Tampines Rovers FC of Singapore.

This is a group of life for Nam Dinh FC as they will not play heavyweights such as Sanfrecce Hiroshima of Japan and Jeonbuk of the Republic of Korea.

The AFC Champions League Two will feature a total of 32 teams in the group stage.

According to the AFC, the new second-tier men's tournament will comprise of eight groups, with four in the West and four in the East. Four teams will be placed in each group, which will be played in a home-and-away round-robin format from September 17 to December 5.

The top two finishers from each group advance to the Round of 16 and will be played in February, 2025.

The AFC Champions League Two winners will be awarded US$3.82 million as prize money.

Previously known as the AFC Cup, which had been in existence for the previous 20 seasons, this marks the first season using a revised format and the new name of the AFC Champions League Two.

It is the first time after 16 years that Thep Xanh Nam Dinh FC has earned the opportunity to compete continentally. Their first time was back in 2008 after they won the 2007 National Cup title.