Kuala Lumpur, 14 November 2025 – AFF confirms that the ASEAN Cup, newly rebranded as ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026, will undergo the biggest format and schedule change in its 30-year history, with the entire tournament moved to the summer and promising stronger squads across all teams.
The ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) has officially announced significant changes to Southeast Asia’s premier national team competition beginning in 2026. Marking the 30-year milestone of the tournament once known as the AFF Cup, the event will enter a new era with the introduction of a new title sponsor and a major shift in competition schedule.
Starting from the 2026 edition, the tournament will carry its new official name ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026, after Hyundai Motor Group became the title sponsor. Alongside the rebrand, the competition will no longer be held at the end or the beginning of the calendar year as traditionally seen. Instead, it will be moved to the summer window, allowing teams to gather their strongest squads under the FIFA international calendar.
According to ESPN Asia, the group stage of the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 will run from 24 July to 8 August, played in a round-robin format. The knockout phase — featuring home-and-away semifinals and finals — will take place from 15 to 26 August 2026.
AFF President Khiev Sameth emphasized the importance of the new era:
“ASEAN Hyundai Cup is the flagship international football tournament of Southeast Asia, and confirming the schedule for the 2026 edition holds special significance. We are grateful for the unwavering support from fans since 1996 and aim to further elevate the tournament into a larger international event.”
Historically, Thailand remain the most successful team with seven titles (1996, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2022), followed by Singapore (four), Vietnam (three), and Malaysia (one). Vietnam are the defending champions after winning the 2024 edition.
Football analyst Gabriel Tan strongly supports AFF’s new direction, highlighting that the shift to the summer window will dramatically improve the competition’s quality. For decades, the tournament was held outside FIFA Days, often forcing teams to play without key players due to clubs’ refusal to release them. With the new scheduling, national teams will be able to summon their strongest line-ups.
“Holding the tournament in mid-year will allow teams to play with full squads instead of missing numerous pillars as in previous editions. The level of excitement will increase significantly, as all the region’s top stars will finally be able to compete,” Tan noted.
With a refreshed identity, an optimal schedule, and guaranteed participation of star players, the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 is set to become the most competitive and high-quality edition in the tournament’s history.
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