When Will FIFA ASEAN Cup Start? Check Schedule, Venue and List of Participating Nations

The new FIFA ASEAN Cup tournament was recently announced by FIFA. As of the announcement date, full, detailed information regarding the definitive schedule and venues is yet to be released. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the tournament will be held during the FIFA International Match Calendar period to create greater impact in the region, which has a population of about 700 million people.

The tournament is intended to feature the national teams of all 11 ASEAN member nations.

When will the FIFA ASEAN Cup start?

The decision to launch the FIFA ASEAN Cup was announced after the signing of an extended Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and FIFA on the sidelines of the 47th Asean Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Although an official start date for a FIFA ASEAN Cup for the first tournament is not specified, FIFA has confirmed the competition will take place on the FIFA International Match Calendar to facilitate the involvement of the region's best players. This synchronises the competition with traditional windows for world football, a vital consideration in securing the success of the event. Further information on the structure of the competition and dates will be announced subsequently.

Who will participate in the FIFA ASEAN Cup?

The new FIFA ASEAN Cup will involve all 11 ASEAN member nations. Brunei, Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.

This roster of FIFA ASEAN Cup teams aims to unify the footballing talent of the region, creating a highly impactful regional tournament.

"Football unites the world and together with all 11 ASEAN countries, we are creating the FIFA ASEAN Cup. It’s a tournament that will bring the region together and become a huge success,” Infantino added during the inauguration event.

FIFA ASEAN Cup Schedule and Venue Information

Since the tournament was only just announced, the formal FIFA ASEAN Cup schedule of match dates, kick-off times, and host cities for the new competition has yet to be released by FIFA or the AFF (ASEAN Football Federation).

The structure is modelled on the FIFA Arab Cup, which proposes that the tournament could include group stages and knockout phases. As the tournament consists of 11 teams, it is most likely to be a regional tournament, with hosting venues likely across participating countries.

The current regional title, presently the ASEAN Championship (or ASEAN Hyundai Cup from 2026), has utilised a home-and-away pattern through several cities in the past. Whether the new FIFA ASEAN Cup takes on a similar model or the centralised host model (such as the World Cup) will be made known in subsequent announcements. Watch out for the official channels of FIFA and the ASEAN Football Federation for the complete FIFA ASEAN Cup schedule and selection of venues.