Defending champions Thailand have withdrawn from the fourth Agribank Cup this year, announced the organisers.

The competition which runs through November 1-5 at the My Dinh National Stadium will now feature the Vietnamese national team, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe and Finland.

Thailand pulled out as the competition dates clash with qualifying matches for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

"Although Thailand can not take part, I believe the three visiting sides will be worthy opponents for Vietnam. They will be a hard test for the national team before the SEA Games," said Dr Tran Quoc Tuan, general secretary of the Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF).

Vietnam play their first match against Uzbekistan in the opener next Thursday. Their second match three days later will be against Zimbabwe and Alfred Riedl’s men meet Finland on November 5.

The winners take home US$40,000 in prize money while the teams finishing second and third receive $20,000 and $10,000 respectively.