Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – In a move aimed at galvanizing football development across Southeast Asia, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced the launch of the FIFA ASEAN Cup. The announcement came on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, where Infantino and ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to solidify regional football development.

The new tournament will feature all 11 ASEAN member nations, seeking to leverage football's unifying power to bring the region closer together. Infantino emphasized that the competition will be integrated into FIFA's International Match Calendar to maximize its impact and global visibility. He stated that the goal is to provide a significant boost to football in the region, showcasing the best players on a global stage.

Inspired by the FIFA Arab Cup, the ASEAN Cup aims to elevate national team football and foster the sport's growth throughout Southeast Asia. FIFA will collaborate with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), and relevant member associations to finalize the tournament format.

Infantino highlighted the strategic importance of Southeast Asia, noting its population of approximately 700 million and its passionate football fanbase. He believes the FIFA ASEAN Cup will be a resounding success, uniting countries and driving the development of the sport across the region.

The MoU between FIFA and ASEAN is built upon three key pillars: integrity, safety, and education. These pillars aim to ensure fair play, secure match environments, and the promotion of learning and development through football for all, regardless of gender. FIFA has demonstrated its commitment to these principles through various initiatives, including the FIFA Football for Schools program.

The ASEAN Championship, formerly known as the AFF Championship or AFF Cup, has been a biennial football tournament organized by the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) for men's national teams in Southeast Asia. It is currently known as the ASEAN Hyundai Cup for sponsorship reasons.

FIFA's commitment to Southeast Asia extends beyond the ASEAN Cup. FIFA Forward funding has been instrumental in supporting football development in the region. For example, the Lao Football Federation established the Champi-Champa National Youth Training Centre with FIFA Forward funding. In Thailand, FIFA Forward funding supported the construction of the Football Association of Thailand's new headquarters. Cambodia has also benefited from FIFA Forward through youth development programs.

The launch of the FIFA ASEAN Cup and the renewed commitment from FIFA signal a promising future for football in Southeast Asia. By investing in integrity, safety, education, and competition, FIFA and ASEAN aim to unlock the region's full potential and further unite its nations through the beautiful game.