2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup
Inaugural edition of the FIFA ASEAN Cup
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup is the inaugural edition of the FIFA ASEAN Cup, an international football competition sanctioned by FIFA for men's national teams of Southeast Asia and guest teams. The tournament takes place during the FIFA international window from 24 September to 5 October.[1][2]
Hong Kong (FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup)
| Piala Perbara FIFA 2026 (Indonesian) 2026年國際足協東盟盃 (Chinese) | |
|---|---|
| |
| Tournament details | |
| Host country | Indonesia (FIFA ASEAN Cup) Hong Kong (FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup) |
| Dates | 24 September – 5 October |
| Teams | 14 (from 3 sub-confederations) |
| Venues | 4 (in 3 host cities) |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 16 |
| Goals scored | 51 (3.19 per match) |
2030 → | |
The tournament comprises two competitions: the FIFA ASEAN Cup, hosted by Indonesia, and the FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup, hosted by Hong Kong, China.[1][3] The FIFA ASEAN Cup champion is reported to receive a prize of US$1 million, with the total prize pool estimated at US$4 million.[4]
Background
FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced the launch of the FIFA ASEAN Cup on 26 October 2025, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.[5] The competition was announced unilaterally by FIFA; the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) was reportedly unaware of the plan for a second Southeast Asian men's tournament prior to the announcement.[6]
The AFF has organised the ASEAN Championship, the existing premier football tournament for Southeast Asian men's national teams since 1996. A key distinction between the two competitions is that the FIFA ASEAN Cup is held within official FIFA international windows, meaning clubs are obliged to release their players for the tournament. The ASEAN Championship has historically been played outside those windows, with no such obligation on clubs.[2] The competition follows the model of the FIFA Arab Cup, a FIFA-sanctioned regional tournament for teams in West Asia and North Africa.[6]
On 20 March 2026, the FIFA Council officially approved the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup at an online meeting, scheduling it for September–October 2026, after the 2026 ASEAN Championship.[2] Following the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada, FIFA and the ASEAN Football Federation signed a memorandum of understanding confirming the tournament's two-competition structure and host countries.[7]
Host countries
The eight teams competing in the FIFA ASEAN Cup are divided into two groups and play their matches in Indonesia, at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta and Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung.[8][9] Hong Kong is a member of the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF), and participates as the FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup host.[10] Matches will be held at Kai Tak Stadium and Mong Kok Stadium.[8]
Venues
| FIFA ASEAN Cup | FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 Jakarta |
Bandung |
 Hong Kong | |
| Gelora Bung Karno Stadium | Si Jalak Harupat Stadium | Kai Tak Stadium | Mong Kok Stadium |
| Capacity: 77,193 | Capacity: 27,000 | Capacity: 50,000 | Capacity: 6,664 |
Participating teams
A total of 14 to 16 teams were planned for the inaugural edition. All members of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) have a guaranteed slot.[11] China, India and Hong Kong were invited to the competition. However, China, focusing on their preparation for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup, decided not to participate, and was replaced by Pakistan.[12][13] India withdrew due to commitments to play a friendly match with Brazil,[14] and was then replaced by Bangladesh.[15][16] Australia is the only AFF member not to enter.
| FIFA ASEAN Cup | FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup |
|---|---|
|
|
Squads
The 14 national teams involved in the tournament were required to register a squad of 23 players, including three goalkeepers. Only players in these squads were eligible to take part in the tournament.[18] The position listed for each player is per the official squad list published by FIFA on 24 September 2026.
Match officials
FIFA appointed match officials for the tournament.
| Confederation | Referee | Assistant referees | Video assistant referee |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC |  Ben Abraham |
Arvin Shanmuganathan |
Luk Kin Sun Amirjon Khorkashev Ngô Duy Lân |
| Wong Wai Lun |
Law Ming Leong Fok Pong Shing | ||
| Thoriq Alkatiri |
Bambang Syamsudar Nurhadi Sulchan | ||
 Sanzhar Zhakypbekov Zayniddin Alimov |
Eldiar Salbaev Kanat Myrsabekov Abdugani Abdukarimov | ||
 Ko Hyung-jin Kim Hee-gon Kim Jong-hyeok |
Yoon Jae-Yeol Kwak Seung-Soon Cheo Jin-Heen Lee Hwa-Pyung | ||
| Abdullo Davlatov Nasrullo Kabirov |
Vafo Karaev Khusravi Siddikzod | ||
 Mongkolchai Pechsri Torphong Somsing |
Thanet Chucheun Chotrawee Thongduang Nattaphon Mala Rachen Srichai | ||
 Resul Mammedov |
Ahmet Begnazarov Begenç Allaberdiýew | ||
 Abdurashid Khudoyberganov Rustam Lutfullin |
Sanzhar Shoyusupov Akmal G'iyosov |
Group stage
The group stage was played from 24 September to 2 October 2026 and was divided into two separate competitions: the FIFA ASEAN Cup and the FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup. The FIFA ASEAN Cup featured eight teams divided into two groups of four, while the FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup featured six teams divided into two groups of three. Both competitions used a single round-robin format, with teams playing each other once. Three points were awarded for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss.
In the FIFA ASEAN Cup, the winners of Groups A and B advanced to the FIFA ASEAN Cup Final, while the runners-up advanced to the Bronze Final. In the FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup, the winners of Groups A and B advanced to the FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup Final.
All match times are in local time: WIB (UTC+7) for the FIFA ASEAN Cup and HKT (UTC+8) for the FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup.
The ranking of teams in each group was determined by the points obtained in all group matches. If two or more teams were equal on points, the following criteria were used to determine the ranking:[11]
If, after having applied criteria a) to c) above, teams still have an equal ranking, and in order to determine their final rankings, criteria a) to c) above are applied to the matches between the remaining teams only. If no decision can be made through this procedure, criteria d) to f) below shall apply as follows to the two or more teams still equal on points:
|
FIFA ASEAN Cup
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indonesia (H) |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 2 | +9 | 7 | Advance to final |
| 2 |  Malaysia |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | +9 | 7 | Advance to bronze final |
| 3 |  Singapore |
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | −7 | 3 | |
| 4 |  Bangladesh |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 13 | −11 | 0 |
| Indonesia | 2–0 | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
|
FIFA Report GSA Report |
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thailand (A) |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 6 | Advance to final |
| 2 | Vietnam |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 3 | Advance to bronze final |
| 3 |  Philippines |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 1 | |
| 4 |  Pakistan |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 1 |
| Pakistan | 0–4 | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| FIFA Report GSA Report |
|
| Philippines | 2–2 | Pakistan |
|---|---|---|
|
FIFA Report GSA Report |
| Thailand | 2–0 | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
|
FIFA Report GSA Report |
FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup
Group A
Laos  | 3–1 |  Brunei |
|---|---|---|
|
FIFA Report GSA Report |
Haziq  45+1' |
| Hong Kong | 4–0 | Laos |
|---|---|---|
|
FIFA Report GSA Report |
| Brunei | 0–2 | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| FIFA Report GSA Report |
|
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Cambodia |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 4 | Advance to final |
| 2 |  Myanmar |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 | |
| 3 |  Timor-Leste |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 1 |
| Myanmar | 2–0 | Timor-Leste |
|---|---|---|
|
FIFA Report GSA Report |
| Cambodia | 1–0 | Myanmar |
|---|---|---|
| Kakada 90+4' |
FIFA Report GSA Report |
| Timor-Leste | 2–2 | Cambodia |
|---|---|---|
|
FIFA Report GSA Report |
Bronze final
The runners-up of Groups A and B in the FIFA ASEAN Cup will contest the Bronze Final on 5 October 2026 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. The FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup does not feature a Bronze Final, with only the group winners advancing to its final.[20]
FIFA ASEAN Cup
Third place match
Finals
FIFA ASEAN Cup final
FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup final
Statistics
FIFA ASEAN Cup
There were 34 goals scored in 10 matches, for an average of 3.4 goals per match.
2 goals
1 goal
1 own goal
FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup
There were 17 goals scored in 6 matches, for an average of 2.83 goals per match.
2 goals
1 goal
Haziq Naqiuddin Syamra
Sin Kakada
Dudu- Everton Camargo
- Chan Siu Kwan
- Sun Ming Him
Bounphachan Bounkong- Bounchay Chernvanglien
- Xayasith Singsavang
Than Paing- Win Naing Tun
Alexandro Bakhito- João Pedro
Discipline
A player or team official was automatically suspended for the next match of the tournament for the following offenses:
- Receiving a red card (red card suspensions could be extended for serious offenses).
- Receiving two yellow cards in the tournament.[B]
The following suspensions were accumulated during the tournament:
| Player | Offense(s) | Suspension(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Safuwan Baharudin |
 in FIFA ASEAN Cup Group A vs Indonesia (25 September) |
FIFA ASEAN Cup Group A vs Bangladesh (28 September) |
| Thom Haye |
in FIFA ASEAN Cup Group A vs Malaysia (28 September) |
FIFA ASEAN Cup Group A vs Bangladesh (1 October) |
Awards
| Competition | Best goalkeeper | Best player | Best young player | Top scorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIFA ASEAN Cup | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Prize money
The following prize distribution has been reported.[4]
| Result | Prize money |
|---|---|
| FIFA ASEAN Cup champion | US$1,000,000 |
| FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup champion | US$300,000 |
| Team participation fee | US$125,000 |
| Total prize pool: ~US$4,000,000 | |
Broadcasting
| Country | Broadcaster | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| Australia |
SBS | [21] |
| Bangladesh |
T Sports, Toffee | [22][23] |
| Hong Kong |
ViuTV | [24] |
| Indonesia |
Emtek, Nex, RANS | [25][26][27] |
| Laos |
LaoTV | [28] |
 Malaysia |
RTM[note 1] | [29] |
| Pakistan |
Tapmad | [30] |
| Philippines |
Tap Sports[note 2] | [31] |
| Singapore |
Mediacorp | [32] |
| South Korea |
ENA Sports | [33] |
| Vietnam |
FPT Play, TV360, MyTV | [34][35][36] |
| International | FIFA+ | [37][38] |
See also
Notes
- As yellow cards were not carried forward to penalty shootouts, players could be shown two yellow cards in the same match without being sent off. However, this would result in a suspension for accumulating two yellow cards during the tournament.
- RTM only broadcast group stage matches involving the Malaysia national football team.
- Tap Sports broadcast ASEAN Cup matches only.