Hanoi, 25 August 2026 – FIFA President Gianni Infantino and FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström will be in attendance at My Dinh National Stadium for the second leg of the ASEAN Championship 2026 final between Vietnam and Thailand.
The presence of FIFA’s two senior leaders adds further significance to one of Southeast Asian football’s biggest matches and reflects the growing profile, appeal and development of the sport across the region.
Infantino has attended several major football events in Southeast Asia in recent years. In December 2021, the FIFA President traveled to Singapore for the opening of the AFF Cup, where he highlighted football’s importance in the region and praised efforts to build a stronger foundation for its long-term development. FIFA also reiterated its commitment to supporting the sustainable growth of Southeast Asian football.
More recently, in January 2023, Infantino attended the second leg of the AFF Cup 2022 final between Thailand and Vietnam at Thammasat Stadium. He watched the match alongside Vietnam Football Federation President Tran Quoc Tuan, as well as senior representatives from the Football Association of Thailand and the ASEAN Football Federation, before taking part in the post-match medal ceremony.
His return for another Vietnam-Thailand final underlines FIFA’s continued interest in Southeast Asian competitions, national teams and the region’s wider football development.
The occasion will also provide Vietnamese football with an opportunity to showcase its progress on an international stage. In recent years, Vietnam has continued to invest in its national teams, youth development system, football infrastructure and the organization of international competitions.
For Kim Sang-sik’s Vietnam, the match at My Dinh carries even greater significance as the Golden Star Warriors stand on the brink of making history by successfully defending their ASEAN Championship title.
Vietnam head into the decisive second leg with a commanding 2-0 aggregate advantage after an impressive victory at Rajamangala Stadium. Nguyen Hai Long and captain Nguyen Quang Hai scored the goals in Bangkok to put the defending champions firmly in control of the tie.
However, with Thailand still having 90 minutes to overturn the deficit, Vietnam will need to complete the job in front of their home supporters before celebrating another regional crown.
The ASEAN Championship 2026 final second leg between Vietnam and Thailand will kick off at 8:00 p.m. on August 26 at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, with Infantino and Grafström set to watch from the stands.
VSN/RPT
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