FIFA Announces New ASEAN Cup Competition for Southeast Asian National Teams

FIFA has announced a brand new international competition called the FIFA ASEAN Cup. Similar in concept to the UEFA Nations League, though much shorter, the tournament aims to provide national teams with meaningful competitive opportunities within the Men's International Match Calendar. FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that the event gives players the chance to represent their countries in high-intensity regional rivalries.

The inaugural edition of the tournament is scheduled to take place between September 24 and October 5. Matches will be hosted in Bandung and Jakarta, Indonesia, as well as in Hong Kong China. The competition will feature 14 teams in total, comprising the 11 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations alongside three invited guests.

Participants will be divided into two separate divisions, each split further into two groups utilizing a single-round-robin format. Finals will then be held between the winners of each section. Division 1 features Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and guest teams Bangladesh and Pakistan. The second tier includes Hong Kong China, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste.