Bhubaneswar: In a major step to enhance football in Southeast Asia, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced the launch of a new regional tournament — the FIFA ASEAN Cup — during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
The landmark announcement came alongside the signing of a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between FIFA and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The five-year agreement focuses on advancing football development, promoting social inclusion, and harnessing the power of sport for community and economic growth.
“Through the FIFA ASEAN Cup, we are uniting countries together. This new tournament will help boost national team football in the ASEAN region and support the development of our sport across all of Southeast Asia,” Infantino said during the unveiling ceremony.
The FIFA ASEAN Cup is expected to feature all 10 ASEAN member nations, offering an elevated platform for regional competition. The tournament is likely to take place during official FIFA international match windows, ensuring the participation of both domestic and international players.
While detailed scheduling and the competition format are yet to be finalised, FIFA confirmed that discussions are underway with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) to design a structure that best represents the spirit and competitiveness of the region.
The ASEAN region already hosts the biennial AFF Championship, but the FIFA ASEAN Cup is seen as a step forward in integrating Southeast Asia more closely with FIFA’s global football calendar and standards.
The renewed FIFA-ASEAN MoU also includes broader objectives such as integrity in sport, sustainability, and climate resilience. Both organisations emphasised their shared goal of using football as a tool for unity, education, and empowerment across the region.
With the creation of the FIFA ASEAN Cup, Southeast Asian football is set to gain greater global visibility, providing new opportunities for emerging talent and strengthening cooperation among member nations.
The inaugural edition is expected to be held within the next two years, marking a new era for regional football under FIFA’s expanding global development vision.
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