Hanoi, 20 March 2026 – FIFA has officially confirmed that the FIFA ASEAN Cup will be held this year, opening up a valuable opportunity for the Vietnam national team to compete for an official FIFA title while also boosting their position in the world rankings.
According to an announcement made on March 20 following a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich, the global governing body has approved the creation of the FIFA ASEAN Cup. The tournament was first introduced at the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia in October 2025 and received strong support, with the inaugural edition scheduled to take place from September to October 2026.
While FIFA has yet to release full details, this marks the first major update since the competition—featuring all 11 Southeast Asian national teams—was initially revealed in Kuala Lumpur last year. The announcement was made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino after signing a memorandum of understanding on football development during the ASEAN Summit.
The new tournament means Southeast Asian teams could face a packed calendar, potentially competing in two regional competitions in the same year. The traditional AFF Cup, now known as the ASEAN Hyundai Cup, is set to run from July 24 to August 26, 2026. As the region’s premier tournament since 1996, the upcoming edition will be its 16th.
At the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup, Singapore have been drawn in Group A alongside defending champions Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, and either Timor-Leste or Brunei. Meanwhile, Thailand will compete in Group B with Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Laos.
The FIFA ASEAN Cup will be played during an expanded FIFA international window, introduced from 2026. Instead of separate two-week windows in September and October, FIFA has created a single three-week window from September 21 to October 6, allowing each team to play up to four matches.
Importantly, because the FIFA ASEAN Cup will take place during official FIFA Days, matches will carry greater weight in the FIFA rankings compared to the ASEAN Hyundai Cup. This presents a clear advantage for Vietnam, as coach Kim Sang Sik’s side will have a stronger chance to climb the global rankings while competing against regional rivals.
As reigning Southeast Asian champions, Vietnam will also enter the tournament as one of the top contenders, with a real chance of lifting a FIFA-recognized trophy.
VSN/RPT
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