FIFA creates new tournament in Southeast Asia, Vietnam team benefits

(Dan Tri) - Southeast Asian football is about to enter a new era when FIFA officially announced the FIFA ASEAN Cup tournament. It is not impossible that this tournament could count for high points on the FIFA rankings.

The event was announced solemnly at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 26. FIFA President Gianni Infantino and ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the rotating ASEAN Chair 2025, were present at the event.

FIFA created the ASEAN Cup, competing according to FIFA's international competition schedule (Photo: NST).

Speaking at the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on football development cooperation between FIFA and ASEAN, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the tournament was born with the aim of breathing new life into Southeast Asian football, while becoming a symbol of solidarity among countries in the region through the king sport .

“This tournament not only has a huge impact on the Southeast Asian region, but also spreads its influence globally,” Mr. Infantino emphasized.

Previously, the first cooperation agreement between FIFA and ASEAN was signed in November 2019 in Bangkok (Thailand). Mr. Infantino highly appreciated the symbolic meaning of the new memorandum: “The number 11 has a special meaning in football, because each team consists of 11 players. Now, together with 11 ASEAN countries, we start a new journey to bring regional football to the international level.”

The FIFA ASEAN Cup will be held within the framework of FIFA’s international competition calendar, bringing together the region’s best players. Therefore, the tournament is likely to be highly ranked in the FIFA rankings. “We believe that this tournament will be a big boost, not only for Southeast Asian football but also to help the region shine on the world map,” Infantino said.

Recruitment

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed his gratitude to FIFA for supporting the development of football in Southeast Asia: “ASEAN leaders are committed to promoting football, a sport of the people, of the youth. This is not just a game, but also a means to build a new generation of leaders.”

However, FIFA has not announced the specific format or schedule of the new ASEAN Cup, nor has it explained how the tournament will be compatible with the AFF Cup.

Currently, the Vietnamese team is the reigning champion of the AFF Cup. Therefore, if the FIFA ASEAN Cup is counted highly on the FIFA rankings, the “Golden Dragons” can completely benefit.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/fifa-tao-ra-giai-dau-moi-o-dong-nam-a-tuyen-viet-nam-huong-loi-20251026185515421.htm