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2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup

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2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup
Piala ASEAN FIFA 2026 (Indonesian)
2026年國際足協東盟盃 (Chinese)
Tournament details
Host countryIndonesia (Premier Division)
Hong Kong (Challenge Division)
Dates24 September – 4 October
Teams14 (from 3 sub-confederations)
2028 →

The 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup is the inaugural edition of the FIFA ASEAN Cup, an international football competition sanctioned by FIFA for men's national teams of Southeast Asia and guest teams. The tournament takes place during the FIFA international window from 24 September to 4 October.[1][2]

The tournament will use a two-division format, with Indonesia hosting the Premier Division and Hong Kong hosting the Challenge Division.[1][3] The Premier Division champion is reported to receive a prize of US$1 million, with the total prize pool estimated at US$4 million.[4]

Background

FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced the launch of the FIFA ASEAN Cup on 26 October 2025, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.[5] The competition was announced unilaterally by FIFA; the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) was reportedly unaware of the plan for a second Southeast Asian men's tournament prior to the announcement.[6]

The AFF has organised the ASEAN Championship, the existing premier football tournament for Southeast Asian men's national teams since 1996. A key distinction between the two competitions is that the FIFA ASEAN Cup is held within official FIFA international windows, meaning clubs are obliged to release their players for the tournament. The ASEAN Championship has historically been played outside those windows, with no such obligation on clubs.[2] The competition follows the model of the FIFA Arab Cup, a FIFA-sanctioned regional tournament for teams in West Asia and North Africa.[6]

On 20 March 2026, the FIFA Council officially approved the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup at an online meeting, scheduling it for September–October 2026, after the 2026 ASEAN Championship.[2] The two-division format and host assignments were subsequently reported following the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada, at which FIFA and the AFF signed a further memorandum of agreement confirming the structure.[7]

Host countries

2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup is located in Southeast Asia
Premier Division(Indonesia)
Premier Division
(Indonesia)
Challenge Division(Hong Kong)
Challenge Division
(Hong Kong)
Host countries of the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup
  Premier Division hosts (Indonesia)
  Challenge Division hosts (Hong Kong)

The eight top-division teams are split into two groups and staged in Indonesia.[1][8] Hong Kong is a member of the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF), and participates as the Challenge Division host.[1][9] Matches are expected to be held at Kai Tak Sports Park.[9]

Format

The 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup adopted a two-division format, held concurrently across two host countries during a single FIFA international window. In each division, teams are split into two groups and play a group stage. The winner of each group advances to a divisional final; No semi-finals are included in the format. Each team is expected to play between two and four matches in total.[10]

Division overview
DivisionHostTeamsFormatPrize (reported)
1PremierIndonesia82 groups → FinalUS$1,000,000 (winner)
2ChallengeHong Kong62 groups → FinalUS$300,000 (winner)

Participating teams

A total of 14 to 16 teams were planned for the inaugural edition. All members of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) have a guaranteed slot.[11] China, India and Hong Kong were invited to the competition. However, China, focusing on their preparation for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup, decided not to participate and was replaced by Pakistan.[12][13] Australia is the only AFF member not to enter.

From July 2026 FIFA World Ranking[14]
Premier Division Challenge Division

^ India, which was originally drawn to Group A of the Premier Division, later withdrew due to commitments to play a friendly match with Brazil[15] and then it was replaced by Bangladesh.[16]

Group stage

The groups were announced on 29 July.[17]

Premier Division

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 BERJAYA Indonesia (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to final
2 BERJAYA Malaysia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 BERJAYA Singapore 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 BERJAYA Bangladesh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: September 2026. Source: FIFA
(H) Hosts

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 BERJAYA Thailand 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to final
2 BERJAYA Vietnam 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 BERJAYA Philippines 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 BERJAYA Pakistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: September 2026. Source: FIFA

Challenge Division

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 BERJAYA Hong Kong (H) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to final
2 BERJAYA Myanmar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 BERJAYA Brunei 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: September 2026. Source: FIFA
(H) Hosts

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 BERJAYA Cambodia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to final
2 BERJAYA Laos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 BERJAYA Timor-Leste 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: September 2026. Source: FIFA

Final ranking matches

At FIFA’s discretion, to determine the final ranking of each division, an additional match may be played on the final matchday between the runners-up from each group, between the third-placed teams from each group, and between the fourth‑placed teams (for Division 1) from each group.[18]

Premier Division

3rd place match

Group A runner-upvGroup B runner-up
TBD

5th place match

Group A 3rd placevGroup B 3rd place
TBD

7th place match

Group A 4th placevGroup B 4th place
TBD

Challenge Division

3rd place match

Group A runner-upvGroup B runner-up
TBD

5th place match

Group A 3rd placevGroup B 3rd place
TBD

Finals

Premier Division final

Group A winnervGroup B winner
TBD

Challenge Division final

Group A winnervGroup B winner
TBD

Statistics

Awards

Best goalkeeper Best player Best young player Top scorer
TBDTBDTBDTBD

Prize money

The following prize distribution has been reported.[4]

ResultPrize money
Premier Division championUS$1,000,000
Challenge Division championUS$300,000
Team participation feeUS$125,000
Total prize pool: ~US$4,000,000

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 McNamara, Paul (30 April 2026). "Hong Kong to host new Fifa Asean Cup tournament, but local bosses silent on new deal". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "FIFA Council highlights power of football and the FIFA World Cup to build bridges and promote peace". FIFA. 20 March 2026. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  3. ↑ "India to take part in inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  4. 1 2 "US$1 million carrot awaits winners of inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup". The Straits Times. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "FIFA ASEAN Cup announced as new Memorandum of Understanding is signed in Kuala Lumpur". FIFA. 26 October 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  6. 1 2 Duerden, John (16 November 2025). "FIFA's power play in Southeast Asia". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  7. ↑ Chittinand, Tor (21 March 2026). "New Fifa Asean Cup set for debut". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  8. ↑ "Hong Kong football poised for Asean Cup windfall, China and India set to compete". South China Morning Post. 7 May 2026. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  9. 1 2 McNamara, Paul (5 May 2026). "Hong Kong set for Fifa Asean Cup Cambodia and Brunei battles". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  10. ↑ "Regulations for the FIFA ASEAN Cup" (PDF). FIFA. pp. 20–21. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "Regulations for the FIFA ASEAN Cup™" (PDF). FIFA. June 2026. p. 19. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "China ditch Fifa Asean Cup, to face North Korea, Palestine in Asian Cup warm-up". South China Morning Post. 23 July 2026. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "We are going to the FIFA ASEAN Cup". Pakistan Football Federation. 28 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026 – via Instagram.
  14. ↑ "FIFA Men's Ranking – July 2026". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 20 July 2026.
  15. ↑ "India out of FIFA ASEAN Cup, plan two more big friendlies". The Times of India. 13 August 2026. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "India out, Bangladesh in for FIFA ASEAN Cup". Daily Star. 14 August 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "Đội tuyển Việt Nam cùng bảng Thái Lan tại Division 1 FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026" [Vietnam joins Thailand's group in Division 1 of the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup] (in Vietnamese). Vietnam Football Federation. 29 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "Regulations for the FIFA ASEAN Cup™" (PDF). FIFA. June 2026. p. 21. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
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