FIFA, ASEAN to launch historic ASEAN Cup — a new era for Southeast Asian football

A new chapter in Southeast Asian football is about to unfold. FIFA has officially announced the creation of the FIFA ASEAN Cup, a groundbreaking tournament designed to elevate football across the region and give ASEAN nations a global stage to showcase their talent.

The announcement came during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, where FIFA President Gianni Infantino and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen football development partnerships. 

The event signified not just another regional competition, but a milestone that ties Southeast Asia’s collective sporting ambition to FIFA’s global vision.

“A new FIFA competition, the FIFA ASEAN Cup that we are putting in place with and for the region, together with all 11 countries. And we launch this competition to give a real boost to football with the best players in the framework of the international match calendar of FIFA to make it really, really impactful in the region, but also to shine in the entire world,” Infantino said.

The FIFA ASEAN Cup will feature all 11 ASEAN member nations, mirroring the structure of the FIFA Arab Cup, which successfully debuted in 2021. 

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️FIFA LAUNCHES THE FIFA ASEAN CUP

This new regional tournament with all 11 ASEAN nations was unveiled by FIFA President Gianni Infantino on 26 October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, to create “a real boost to football … to shine on the global stage”. pic.twitter.com/048i9SFayT

— ASEAN FOOTBALL (@theaseanball) October 26, 2025

The event aims to blend competition and collaboration, strengthening local football ecosystems while preparing teams for global tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the AFC Asian Cup.

For the Philippines, the announcement couldn’t come at a better time. Currently rebuilding under a new generation of players, have been working to regain their footing in international play after participating in multiple AFC Asian Cup qualifiers and historic runs in the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup. 

Meanwhile, the Philippine Women’s National Team (Filipinas) continues to make waves after their landmark debut in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where they secured their first-ever World Cup victory — a breakthrough that inspired a new wave of football interest in the country.

FIFA will collaborate with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), and the 11 regional football associations to finalize tournament logistics, scheduling, and hosting rotation. 

Once completed, the ASEAN Cup is expected to become one of the most-watched and commercially viable football events in Southeast Asia, uniting nations that share both fierce rivalry and regional pride.

With the Philippines and its neighbors now part of this ambitious initiative, the FIFA ASEAN Cup promises to be more than just another competition — it’s a chance for Southeast Asia to finally stand shoulder-to-shoulder with football’s biggest regions and redefine its place on the world stage.

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