FIFA President Gianni Infantino Announces New “FIFA ASEAN Cup” for Southeast Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced the launch of a new regional football tournament, the FIFA ASEAN Cup, aimed at uniting Southeast Asian nations and elevating the standard of football across the region.

The announcement was made on Sunday during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur, marking a historic collaboration between FIFA and ASEAN member countries.

Infantino said the new tournament will be held during FIFA’s official international match windows, allowing top players from global leagues to represent their national teams.

“Through the FIFA ASEAN Cup, we are uniting countries together, and this competition will be a huge success,” Infantino declared. “It will help boost national team football in the ASEAN region and support the development of our sport across all of Southeast Asia.”

Southeast Asia already hosts the ASEAN Championship (AFF Cup), a biennial regional tournament — with Vietnam winning the most recent edition in January. However, the new FIFA-backed ASEAN Cup will carry greater prestige and global visibility, aligning with FIFA’s broader mission to strengthen football in emerging regions.

Infantino made the announcement just hours after East Timor was formally admitted as ASEAN’s 11th member, symbolically linking the new tournament’s format with football’s most iconic number.

“The number 11 is a symbolic one in the footballing world, as each team has 11 players,” Infantino noted, congratulating East Timor on joining the ASEAN family.

Currently, Indonesia remains the only ASEAN nation to have advanced beyond the third round of continental qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, highlighting the potential for growth that the new tournament aims to unlock.

FIFA said that discussions will soon begin with regional stakeholders, including the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), to finalize tournament details, including its format, host rotation, and inaugural edition schedule.

Observers believe the FIFA ASEAN Cup could mirror the Arab Cup model, serving as both a competitive platform and a celebration of regional unity through sport.

The initiative underscores FIFA’s growing commitment to Asia’s football ecosystem and ASEAN’s increasing prominence on the global sports stage.

— Voice of Malaysia News