Hanoi, 22 November 2025 – Gianni Infantino’s presence at the AFF Congress in Bangkok on 22–23 November is expected to accelerate the official creation of the FIFA ASEAN Cup, a new regional tournament planned for 2027 and fully sanctioned within the FIFA international calendar.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino will attend the 2025 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, on 22 and 23 November, marking a crucial step toward launching the FIFA ASEAN Cup from 2027. His appearance will reinforce high-level discussions on the establishment of the new tournament, which follows the historic memorandum of understanding signed between ASEAN and FIFA during the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia on 26 October.
According to ASEAN Football, Infantino’s presence represents “a step closer to making the FIFA ASEAN Cup a reality,” with the tournament expected to debut in 2027 as part of FIFA’s International Match Calendar. Importantly, the FIFA ASEAN Cup will be completely separate from the long-standing AFF Cup, which continues to be organised exclusively by AFF.
Speaking on 26 October, Infantino emphasised that the FIFA ASEAN Cup aims to inject renewed energy into football across Southeast Asia, symbolising unity among ASEAN nations through the world’s most popular sport. The tournament is expected to mirror the successful model of the FIFA Arab Cup, also organised directly by FIFA.
Regional media have described the FIFA ASEAN Cup as a potential turning point for Southeast Asian football. One of its biggest advantages is that it will take place during official FIFA Days and can be completed within roughly two weeks. This ensures that national teams can summon their strongest squads—something the AFF Cup has often struggled with due to its scheduling outside the FIFA window.
Malaysian journalist T. Avineshwaran of The Star commented: “The introduction of the FIFA ASEAN Cup will bring fresh momentum and change the landscape of Southeast Asian football, which for years has centred solely around the AFF Cup. Since the AFF Cup has not been part of FIFA Days, teams have always faced challenges in calling up players. This new tournament is great news and could become a major catalyst for regional football development.”
Amid these changes, AFF Cup 2026 is set to take place during the summer immediately after the 2026 World Cup, from 24 July to 26 August 2026. The event will feature 10 Southeast Asian teams but will run for more than a month, potentially creating scheduling conflicts for domestic leagues, many of which must adjust their season openers. Clubs may also reconsider releasing players, as the competition falls during the build-up phase for their new campaigns.
In this context, Infantino’s visit to Southeast Asia and the formal activation of the FIFA ASEAN Cup initiative is seen as a major breakthrough—one that could significantly reshape the football landscape across the region.
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