FIFA announced the first edition of the FIFA ASEAN Cup, a new competition for Southeast Asian national teams that runs alongside the long‑standing AFF‑organised ASEAN Cup. The tournament, unveiled by FIFA President Gianni Infantino on 26 October 2025 at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, will feature 14 sides – 11 from the region and three invited guests – split into two divisions.
Division 1
Comprising eight teams, Division 1 will be contested in Indonesia from 25 September to 5 October 2026 at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno and Bandung’s Si Jalak Harupat stadiums. Vietnam is drawn in Group B with Thailand, the Philippines and Pakistan, and must finish atop the group to reach the final.
Division 2
With six teams, Division 2 will be held in Hong Kong between 24 September and 3 October at Kai Tak and Mong Kok venues.
Prize structure
The prize structure is unprecedented for the region. The Division 1 champion will receive US$1 million (about 26 billion VND), double the US$500,000 (≈13 billion VND) previously awarded by the AFF for the 2026 ASEAN Cup. The Division 2 winner will collect US$300,000 (≈8 billion VND), matching the AFF’s 2024 champion reward. All participants are guaranteed a US$125,000 participation fee (≈3.2 billion VND), and additional performance bonuses bring the total prize fund above US$4 million (over 104 billion VND).
Because the competition is scheduled during FIFA‑designated international windows, clubs are obliged to release players, allowing nations like Vietnam to field their strongest squads. Coach Kim Sang‑si and his team will aim to secure the top spot in Group B, which would earn them the tournament’s inaugural trophy and a historic financial windfall for Vietnamese football.