The FIFA ASEAN Cup is an international football competition sanctioned by FIFA for the men's national teams of Southeast Asia and guest teams.
The tournament is structured as two separate divisions, the second division was given its own distinct branding, the FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup.
Background FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced the launch of the FIFA ASEAN Cup on 26 October 2025, following the signing of a memorandum of agreement at the 47th ASEAN Summit. The ceremony was held in Kuala Lumpur and witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Unilaterally initiated by FIFA, the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) was shocked, as they were unaware of any plans for a second Southeast Asian men's tournament prior to the announcement
The AFF has organised the ASEAN Championship since 1996, and is regarded as the premier tournament of the men's national football teams of Southeast Asia. However, they were usually held outside the official FIFA international window, and thus clubs were not obliged to release their players for the ASEAN Championship. The FIFA ASEAN Cup plan follows the FIFA Arab Cup, a regional tournament for teams in West Asia and North Africa.
Format The tournament is structured as two separate divisions: Division 1 and Division 2. Midway the inaugural 2026 edition, the second division was given its own distinct branding, the FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup.
Both divisions have a single round-robin format. FIFA ASEAN Cup features eight teams across two groups of four. Group winners advance to the final, while runners-up meet in the third place play-off. FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup features six teams across two groups of three, with group winners advancing directly to the Challenge Cup final.
Results FIFA ASEAN Cup YearHostFinalThird place playoffNumber of teamsWinnersScoreScore20262–2 1–08
FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup YearHostFinalNumber of teamsWinnersScore20262–06
Competition record FIFA ASEAN Cup Team Titles Runners-up Third place Fourth place Top 4total 1 (2026)1 1 (2026)1 1 (2026)1 1 (2026)1
FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup Team Titles Runners-up Finaltotal 1 (2026)1 1 (2026)1
Hosts Year Hosts of groups of teams2026 28 6
Team results by tournament Legend
– Champions – Runners-up – Third place – Fourth place GS – Group stage — Hosts Q – Qualified / entrant team × – Withdrew after the draw – – Did not enter
FIFA ASEAN Cup Team 2026 YearsAFF1st 13rd 1GS 1GS 12nd 14th 1Invited teams(SAFF)GS 1(SAFF)GS 1
FIFA ASEAN Challenge Cup Team 2026 YearsAFFGS 12nd 1GS 1GS 1GS 1Invited teams(EAFF)1st 1
See also FIFA Arab Cup FIFA Series ASEAN Championship ASEAN Women's Championship AFF Women's Cup AFC Solidarity Cup Kirin Cup Soccer
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