FIFA launches Asean Cup: opportunity or overlap with AFF Cup?
FIFA announced the FIFA Asean Cup gathering 11 Southeast Asian teams on October 26; the tournament is expected to be coordinated with AFC/AFF following the FIFA Arab Cup model, raising questions about the future of the AFF Cup.
FIFA announced the launch of the FIFA Asean Cup on October 26, a tournament featuring 11 Southeast Asian teams. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said it would be a “great addition to the regional football calendar”, giving Southeast Asian players a chance to shine. But with the AFF Cup having been dubbed the “Southeast Asian World Cup” since 1996, the question is: does the region really need another tournament?
Why Southeast Asia is getting attention from FIFA
Southeast Asia has a population of more than 700 million and a passionate love of football, reflected in large attendance figures for national team matches: 57,696 watched Indonesia beat Vietnam 1-0 at Gelora Bung Karno (March 2024), 61,512 spectators witnessed Malaysia beat Vietnam 4-0 at Bukit Jalil (June 2025).
The domestic and club-level playgrounds are improving: Thai League, Liga 1 Indonesia, V.League; along with clubs Johor Darul Ta'zim (Malaysia), Buriram United (Thailand) and Lion City Sailors (Singapore) - the finalists of Asian Champions League Two 2025 - showing an increasingly solid competitive foundation.
The human factor is also significant. According to expert Khairul Asyraf, the region's attraction comes from influential figures and financial potential such as Forrest Li (President of the Singapore Football Federation), Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim (owner of JDT), Erick Thohir (President of the Indonesian Football Federation) or Madam Pang (President of the Thai Football Federation). Khairul commented: "FIFA sees the rise of influential and financially potential people in the region, along with a large population, so they want to create a new playground for Southeast Asia to assert itself."
Opportunities from FIFA calendar and personnel quality
FIFA has not announced the format or time of the tournament, but has confirmed that it will coordinate with AFC, AFF and member federations to build the tournament. The key point lies in the competition schedule: AFF Cup is not currently part of the FIFA calendar, so clubs are not bound to release players, causing many teams – especially Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand – to be without key players due to overlapping domestic schedules.
If the FIFA Asean Cup is included in the FIFA calendar, clubs will be forced to release players. Singapore captain Hariss Harun hopes: “This will be a big boost. When the tournament is recognized by FIFA, top players can participate, helping to raise the quality and image of the region.” Former international Noor Ali, coach of Geylang International, emphasized: “When FIFA participates, everything will be more professional – from organization, media to finance.”
One notable rumor is that the FIFA Asean Cup could become the knockout round for the Asian Cup, which could significantly increase the competition and importance.
Reference model: FIFA Arab Cup
FIFA said the FIFA Asean Cup will follow the “successful” model of the FIFA Arab Cup. Although the Arab Cup tournament has a history dating back to 1963, it only returned when FIFA took over in 2021 and reached international levels: a total prize fund of $25.5 million, more than 600,000 live spectators and 272 million global viewers. The 2025 edition increases the total prize fund to $36.5 million, of which the champion team receives $10 million.
Meanwhile, the 2024 AFF Cup will award $300,000 to the champion and $100,000 to the runner-up. The financial difference shows the potential resources if FIFA takes charge of organizing and distributing.
| Tournament | Year | Index | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIFA Arab Cup | 2021 | Total bonus | 25.5 million USD |
| FIFA Arab Cup | 2021 | Live audience | More than 600,000 |
| FIFA Arab Cup | 2021 | Global views | 272 million |
| FIFA Arab Cup | 2025 | Total bonus | 36.5 million USD |
| FIFA Arab Cup | 2025 | Championship Bonus | 10 million USD |
| AFF Cup | 2024 | Championship Bonus | 300,000 USD |
| AFF Cup | 2024 | Runner-up award | 100,000 USD |
Will two leagues coexist or will there be only one?
Experts consider the FIFA Asean Cup a boost, but warn of overlapping risks. Khairul Asyraf expressed skepticism about the two tournaments existing in parallel, citing the precedent of the SEA Games having to limit the age of U22 because of the AFF Cup. Captain Hariss Harun also noted the tight schedule: players are already busy with domestic tournaments, the Asian Cup and the national team; adding another tournament could easily lead to overload.
The signal from FIFA is an opportunity for prestige, finance and professionalism, but the big question remains: will the FIFA Asean Cup replace or accompany the AFF Cup? The region is waiting for an answer – and if the new tournament is added to the FIFA calendar, the balance may tilt in favour of focusing on a playground that is most representative of Southeast Asia.
