The International Football Association (FIFA) Council has officially approved the establishment of a brand-new tournament: the FIFA ASEAN Cup. This significant initiative is designed to introduce more competitive opportunities for national teams across Southeast Asia and to significantly elevate the profile of ASEAN football on the international stage.
The landmark decision was made during a FIFA Online Council Meeting, presided over by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, held at the FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, on March 20. President Infantino had previously expressed a positive reception to the concept after receiving a formal proposal for a dedicated Southeast Asia award at the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia in October 2025.
The inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup is provisionally scheduled to commence during the FIFA international match windows in September-October 2026. This upcoming event is poised to be a historical moment, marking the official recognition by FIFA of a dedicated regional competition specifically aimed at fostering the development and promotion of football within the ASEAN region to unprecedented levels.
While further details are anticipated, the newly recognized FIFA trophy is expected either to replace the existing ASEAN Cup, which currently operates under the trade name ASEAN Hyundai Cup, or to complement it. It is notable that the current ASEAN Hyundai Cup is not presently integrated into FIFA’s official international competition schedule.
The FIFA ASEAN Cup is anticipated to bring together national teams from all ASEAN member states, competing in a format similar to other FIFA-sanctioned tournaments. This new competition draws parallels to events such as the FIFA Cup held in the Arab world in 2021, which served as the first FIFA tournament of its kind in that particular region.
