Jakarta, September 10 (Daily Kiran) : The first-ever FIFA ASEAN Cup will commence on September 24, as announced by FIFA on Thursday. The tournament will feature 14 national teams competing in two divisions. Bangladesh will face Malaysia in the premier division’s opening match, while host nation Indonesia takes on Singapore.
The competition is scheduled to run until October 5, with Indonesia hosting Division 1 and Hong Kong overseeing Division 2. The first day will see Bangladesh and Malaysia clash at 4 PM, followed by Indonesia’s match against Singapore at 8 PM at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.
Division 2 will also kick off on September 24, with Brunei Darussalam playing Laos and Myanmar going up against Timor-Leste later that evening. In Division 1, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Singapore are grouped in Group A, while Vietnam, Pakistan, Thailand, and the Philippines make up Group B.
Division 2 includes Hong Kong, China, Laos, Brunei Darussalam, and Cambodia in one group, while Myanmar and Timor-Leste are in another. The final round of group matches for Division 1 will take place on October 1 and 2. Group winners will advance to their respective finals, and the runners-up will compete for third place. The Division 1 final and third-place match are set for October 5, while the Division 2 final will occur on October 3. Matches will be held at various venues including Gelora Bung Karno Stadium and Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Indonesia, as well as Kai Tak Stadium and Mong Kok Stadium in Hong Kong.
All 11 ASEAN member countries and three guest teams will participate in this inaugural tournament. India was expected to join but withdrew and instead will play two friendly matches against Brazil during the same international window in September and October. FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that the tournament aims to provide national teams with competitive opportunities within the men’s international match calendar.
Infantino emphasized, “The FIFA ASEAN Cup was initiated to give national teams a chance to compete in intense regional rivalries, representing their countries. This tournament will strengthen football relations across Southeast Asia while providing memorable moments and exciting international action for fans in the region.”
FIFA noted that the participating teams collectively represent over two billion people, with the goal of enhancing football relations in Southeast Asia and providing both established and emerging teams with a high-quality international platform.
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