Determining the final team to qualify for the ASEAN Cup 2026

Timor-Leste defeated Brunei in both legs of the play-off, securing the final spot in the 2026 ASEAN Cup group stage. They will be placed in Group A alongside Vietnam.

Timor-Leste has qualified for the ASEAN Cup for the second consecutive time.

The second leg of the play-off for a spot in the 2026 ASEAN Cup, played on the afternoon of June 9th, was not much different from the first leg. On the pitch in Kuala Lumpur ( Malaysia ), Timor-Leste still dominated but failed to capitalize on their opportunities for most of the first half.

Brunei surprisingly opened the scoring. In the 42nd minute, Azwan Ali Rahman's mishandled ball after receiving a weak pass from Nur Asyraffahmi Norsamri created space for the number 7 to shoot. Azwan immediately unleashed a long-range shot with his weaker foot, beating goalkeeper Dylan Niski. The 34-year-old midfielder's powerful strike was the only goal of the first half.

"The Crocodiles" continued their dominance in the second half and equalized in the 56th minute. Liam Farrugia crossed the ball from the left wing for Zion Cruz to head it into the net from close range, beating goalkeeper Haimie Nyaring. The equalizer boosted Timor-Leste's morale. In the 62nd minute, Hanif Hamir's tackle inadvertently sent the ball to Claudio Osorio's feet. The number 8 controlled the ball with one touch before finishing to put Timor-Leste ahead 2-1.

The final blow for Brunei came in the 80th minute. From a quick counter-attack down the right wing, Zenivio Mota delivered a low cross to Oatnasio da Silva, who volleyed the ball into the net with one touch, extending Timor-Leste's lead to two goals. The match ended with the "Crocodiles" winning 3-1.

You may also like

Japan: The lone giant of Asian footballThe 2026 World Cup is highlighting a familiar yet thought-provoking reality: the gap between Asian football and the major regions remains vast. And Japan is the only representative left remaining in the world's premier football tournament.

Canada beat South Africa in injury time to reach the World Cup Round of 16 for the first time.Stephen Eustáquio's injury-time goal secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory for co-hosts Canada against South Africa, earning them a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16.

World Cup score prediction: Japan eliminates Brazil on penalties.At 0:00 on June 30th (Vietnam time), the highly anticipated match of top-level football will take place, as Japan challenges Brazil in the second match of the round of 32, held at the NRG Stadium in Houston (USA).

Timor-Leste's victory was predictable. In the first leg, coach Jose Pedro's team showcased their strength with a 3-0 win. The aggregate score after two legs was 6-1 in favor of Timor-Leste. They became the last team to qualify for the ASEAN Cup 2026, placed in Group A with Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore , and Cambodia.

List of 10 teams participating in the ASEAN Cup 2026 , Timor-Leste secured the last spot in Group A. Graphic: ASEAN Utd FC.

This is the fifth time in history, and the second consecutive time, that Timor-Leste has participated in the ASEAN Cup (formerly the AFF Cup). Previously, "The Crocodiles" had appeared in this tournament in 2004, 2018, and 2020. Timor-Leste has been eliminated in the group stage in every ASEAN Cup they have participated in.

In their most recent appearance at the tournament, the team, then coached by Simon Elissetche, lost all four group stage matches with scores of 0-10 against Thailand, 2-3 against Malaysia, 0-3 against Singapore, and 1-2 against Cambodia. Meanwhile, Brunei has only participated in the finals twice, in 1996 and 2022.

United States - Vietnam: Don't miss

Vietnam encourages US businesses to expand investment in high technology.On the morning of June 26th, at the Government Headquarters, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung received Mr. Jeff Place, Supply Chain Director of Coherent Group (USA). During the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam encourages US businesses to expand investment, especially in high-tech, innovation, and semiconductor industries.

Encourage U.S. businesses to expand investment in high-tech sectors.Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung said that Vietnam welcomes US businesses to continue expanding their operations in Vietnam, especially in high-tech industries and sectors with high added value.

Vietnam and the United States strengthen cooperation in addressing the consequences of war.VTV.vn - On June 22, General Secretary and President To Lam received Acting Secretary of the US Navy Hung Cao.

Source: https://znews.vn/xac-dinh-doi-cuoi-cung-du-asean-cup-2026-post1658310.html