According to the announcement made after the FIFA Council meeting in Zurich (Switzerland), the idea for the FIFA ASEAN Cup was first presented at the ASEAN Summit held in Malaysia in October 2025 and received positive feedback from countries in the region. This will be a playground gathering all 11 Southeast Asian national teams.
Although the detailed format or specific schedule has not been announced, FIFA said that the tournament will be within the new expanded FIFA Days framework, applied from 2026. Accordingly, the team gatherings in September and October will be combined into a three-week period (from September 21 to October 6), each team can play a maximum of four matches.
Notably, Southeast Asian teams are likely to have to participate in two regional tournaments in the same year 2026. Previously, the Southeast Asian Championship, currently called ASEAN Hyundai Cup, organized by the Southeast Asian Football Federation, had scheduled its time from July 24 to August 26. This is a traditional tournament, held every two years since 1996.
FIFA's organization of the FIFA ASEAN Cup is expected to raise the level of regional football, and at the same time create more international clashes opportunities for teams. However, the dense schedule also poses a significant challenge for the forces and preparation of the teams.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized that the organization continues to commit to developing global football through new initiatives, while affirming the role of football in connecting nations and promoting the spirit of peace.
Currently, AFF and member federations have not given an official response to the FIFA ASEAN Cup organization plan. However, with the support from FIFA, the new tournament is expected to create a remarkable turning point for Southeast Asian football in the near future.
