FIFA Launches ASEAN Cup to Boost Regional Football Development

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – FIFA has announced the creation of the FIFA ASEAN Cup, a new soccer tournament meant to enhance the development of football in Southeast Asia. The announcement was made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the 47th ASEAN Summit on Sunday.

The tournament will feature national teams from all 11 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and is inspired by the Arab Cup first held in 2021. Infantino expressed optimism about the new competition, stating, “This will be a great addition to the regional football calendar. We are uniting countries together, and this competition will be a huge success in boosting national team football in the ASEAN region.”

Infantino made the announcement shortly after East Timor was admitted as the 11th member of ASEAN. “The number 11 is symbolic in the footballing world as each team has 11 players,” he noted. The FIFA ASEAN Cup will align with FIFA’s international match windows, allowing national teams to select players from leagues worldwide.

In collaboration with regional bodies like the Asian Football Confederation and the ASEAN Football Federation, FIFA will finalize the tournament’s format. Infantino highlighted the importance of the competition in uplifting the profile of football across Southeast Asia, which has a population of approximately 700 million.

The creation of the tournament comes amid ongoing efforts to develop football in the region, as FIFA and ASEAN signed a Memorandum of Understanding to bolster football development initiatives. Infantino emphasized the goals of ensuring game integrity, providing secure match environments, and promoting educational opportunities through football for both genders.

This new tournament could have significant implications for existing competitions in the region, particularly the biennial ASEAN Championship. The AFF has a recent sponsorship deal with Hyundai for the championship starting in 2026, and questions remain on how the introduction of the new tournament may affect the dynamics of existing competitions and competitions.