The tournament is likely to be divided into two divisions including League 1 and League 2, in order to create a clear stratification of levels. In which, League 1 gathers top Southeast Asian teams such as Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and the Philippines. The remaining group includes teams such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Brunei and may include Hong Kong (China).
Being in the group of strong teams makes the journey of the Vietnamese team predicted to be challenging, as opponents all have direct competition in terms of level and ambition. Each match is therefore considered a "final", requiring careful preparation in terms of expertise and force.
In the opposite direction, the new format also opens up opportunities for coach Kim Sang-sik and his team to affirm their position in the region if they achieve good results against competitors.
Regarding the venue, Indonesia is said to host League 1 matches, while Hong Kong (China) is the venue for League 2 matches. Notably, the expansion of the venue outside Southeast Asia shows the orientation to elevate the tournament both in terms of scale and attractiveness.
In addition, FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 is expected to be held coinciding with FIFA Days, helping teams have the strongest force when clubs are forced to release players. VAR technology is also expected to be applied synchronously to improve professional quality.
According to the plan, the tournament will take place from September 21st to October 6th, 2026. With this time fund, each team can play a maximum of 4 matches before the players return to serve their club.
