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Vietnam could face China in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. |
According to Chinese media, the Chinese Football Association has agreed on a plan to have the national team participate in the tournament taking place from September 21 to October 6, 2026. This is part of a long-term preparation strategy towards the 2030 World Cup, aiming to improve the professional quality and enhance international competition experience for the players.
Following its most recent congress, FIFA also announced more important details about the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. The tournament will bring together 14 teams, including 11 representatives from Southeast Asia and 3 invited teams: China, India, and Hong Kong (China).
The teams are divided into two divisions based on their latest FIFA rankings. Division 1 includes Thailand, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, India, Malaysia, and Singapore. Matches in this group will take place in Indonesia, along with an as-yet-undetermined co-host nation.
Meanwhile, the second-place teams, including Hong Kong (China), Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, and Timor Leste, will compete in a centralized location in Hong Kong.
Each league will be divided into two groups playing a round-robin format. The top two teams from each group will advance to the final to compete for the championship, while the two second-place teams will play for third place. Notably, there will be no semi-finals in order to shorten the competition time.
Unlike the traditional ASEAN Cup organized by the AFF, the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 is recognized by FIFA as an official tournament and contributes to FIFA ranking points. This promises to create greater appeal in terms of both professional standards and competitiveness.
Coach Kim Sang Sik and his team aim to defend their ASEAN Cup 2026 title, which will take place from July to August. Meanwhile, their ambitions for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 remain questionable.
Source: https://znews.vn/trung-quoc-du-fifa-asean-cup-2026-post1650208.html
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