KUALA LUMPUR: The inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 is set to bring together 14 national teams from Southeast Asia and guest nations for a new regional international football competition from 24 September to 5 October 2026.
The tournament will be staged across Bandung and Jakarta in Indonesia, and Hong Kong China, with all 11 ASEAN member associations joined by three guest teams.
The 14 participating teams will compete across two divisions, with the tournament designed to provide meaningful international competition while strengthening football ties throughout the region.
Division 1, hosted by Indonesia, will feature Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, along with guest teams Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Division 2, hosted by Hong Kong China, will include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Timor-Leste, alongside Hong Kong China as a guest participant.
Each division will be divided into two groups, with teams playing a single round-robin format. The winners of each group will advance to their respective finals to compete for the division title.
In Division 1, the two group runners-up will also meet in a third-place play-off.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the tournament was created to provide national teams with meaningful competitive opportunities within the Men’s International Match Calendar.
He added that the competition would strengthen football connections across Southeast Asia while creating memorable international moments for supporters throughout the region.
The participating nations represent a combined population of more than two billion people, underlining the region’s significant football potential and the scale of the new competition.
The host cities of Bandung, Jakarta and Hong Kong China will provide the backdrop for a tournament involving both established football nations and emerging teams.
FIFA said the competition is intended to support the continued development of national-team football while also highlighting the cultural, social and economic connections linking countries across Southeast Asia and the wider region.
With preparations now under way, the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 is expected to create a new platform for regional rivalries and give fans an opportunity to experience international football in a new competitive format.
