FIFA approves ASEAN Cup, first edition set for Q3 2026

“The FIFA Council approved the introduction of the FIFA ASEAN Cup, first presented to the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia in October 2025 to positive reception, with the first edition planned for September-October 2026,” FIFA said in a statement.

The move marks the first time a Southeast Asian regional national team competition will be formally recognized within FIFA’s international match calendar structure.

The inaugural tournament is scheduled to take place during the FIFA international match window between September and October 2026, allowing national teams to call up players from clubs worldwide.

Matches played at the tournament will count toward the FIFA rankings, offering teams in the region an opportunity to gain points under official weighting.

The competition builds on the long-running regional championship organized by the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), currently known as the ASEAN Championship, which was first held in 1996 as AFF Championship.

Thailand won the inaugural edition and remain the most successful side in the tournament’s history with seven titles, while Vietnam won the most recent edition in 2024, defeating Thailand in the final to secure their third title.

The new tournament is expected to provide a higher-level competitive platform aligned with international standards, as interest in football in Southeast Asia continues to grow.