Six local and two foreign teams will compete, the organizers announced Wednesday.

The VNPT/VDC-Mega VNN Cup will comprise Ha Noi, Gia Lai, Dong Nai, HCMC, Dong Thap, Ca Mau and the two invited teams - divided into two groups, the organizers told a press briefing in HCMC. The top two teams of each group will go through to the semifinals.

The Vietnamese teams, all under 15, will be made up of players from SOS villages and charity houses, said Dang Xuan Dung, chief of the organizing committee and editor-in-chief of Ho Chi Minh City Police newspaper.

Vietnam Television will broadcast the opening ceremony, the opener on May 27, the final, and the closing ceremony on May 31 live on VTV3 channel.

The prizes for the champions, runners-up, third and fourth -place teams will be VND20 million (US$1,124), VND15 million, VND10 million and VND5 million, respectively.

The organizers are Ho Chi Minh City Police newspaper, The Thao Viet Nam (Vietnam Sports) newspaper, and the Vietnam Data Communication Company (VDC)-Southern Region.

Committee member Dang Quang Duong said doctors from cities and provinces where the children come from are confirming the players’ ages. He added that Cambodian and Thai representatives have ensured the organizing committee that their players are younger than 15.

The chief of the organizing committee said that from the six Vietnamese teams, a team will be selected to represent Vietnam for a friendly tour to Thailand.

Reported by Tuong Thuy