FIFA launches ASEAN Cup: an opportunity or a repetition of the AFF Cup?
FIFA announced on October 26th that the FIFA ASEAN Cup will bring together 11 Southeast Asian teams; the tournament is expected to be held in collaboration with the 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 26th, a tournament bringing together 11 Southeast Asian national teams. FIFA President Gianni Infantino affirmed that it would be "a great addition to the region's football calendar," opening opportunities for Southeast Asian players to shine. But with the AFF Cup already considered the "Southeast Asian World Cup" since 1996, the question arises: does the region really need another tournament?
Why is Southeast Asia attracting FIFA's attention?
Southeast Asia has over 700 million people and a passionate love of football, reflected in the large attendance figures at national team matches: 57,696 people watched Indonesia beat Vietnam 1-0 at Gelora Bung Karno (March 2024), and 61,512 spectators witnessed Malaysia defeat Vietnam 4-0 at Bukit Jalil (June 2025).
Domestic and club-level competitions are rising in quality: the Thai League, Liga 1 Indonesia, V.League; along with clubs like Johor Darul Ta'zim (Malaysia), Buriram United (Thailand), and Lion City Sailors (Singapore) – the team that reached the final of the 2025 Asian Champions League Two – demonstrate an increasingly solid foundation for competition.
The human factor is also significant. According to expert Khairul Asyraf, the region's appeal stems from influential figures and financial resources such as Forrest Li (Chairman of the Singapore Football Association), Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim (owner of JDT), Erick Thohir (Chairman of the Indonesian Football Association), and Madam Pang (Chairman of the Thai Football Association). Khairul stated: "FIFA sees the rise of influential and financially powerful individuals in the region, along with its large population, so they want to create a new playing field for Southeast Asia to assert itself."
Opportunities arising from the FIFA calendar and the quality of the players.
FIFA has not yet announced the format or timing of the tournament, but has confirmed it will coordinate with the AFC, AFF, and member federations to develop the competition. The key issue lies in the schedule: the AFF Cup is currently not on the FIFA calendar, so clubs are not bound to release players, causing many national teams – especially Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand – to be without key players due to domestic schedule conflicts.
If the FIFA ASEAN Cup is included in the FIFA calendar, clubs will be forced to release their players. Singapore captain Hariss Harun expects: “This will be a huge boost. When the tournament is recognized by FIFA, top players can participate, helping to raise the quality and image of the region.” Former national team player Noor Ali, coach of Geylang International, emphasized: “When FIFA gets involved, everything will be more professional – from organization and media to finance.”
One notable rumor is that the FIFA ASEAN Cup could become a knockout round for the Asian Cup, which could significantly increase its competitiveness and importance.
Reference model: FIFA Arab Cup
FIFA has stated that the FIFA ASEAN Cup will follow the "successful" model of the FIFA Arab Cup. Although the Arab Cup has a history dating back to 1963, it only returned to international prominence after FIFA took over in 2021: a total prize pool of $25.5 million, over 600,000 live spectators, and 272 million global viewers. The 2025 edition increases the total prize pool to $36.5 million, with the winning team receiving $10 million.
Meanwhile, the AFF Cup 2024 will award $300,000 to the champion and $100,000 to the runner-up. This financial disparity highlights the potential resources if FIFA were to organize and distribute the funds.
| Tournament | Year | Index | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIFA Arab Cup | 2021 | Total prize money | $25.5 million |
| FIFA Arab Cup | 2021 | Live audience | Over 600,000 |
| FIFA Arab Cup | 2021 | Global views | 272 million |
| FIFA Arab Cup | 2025 | Total prize money | $36.5 million |
| FIFA Arab Cup | 2025 | Champion's reward | 10 million USD |
| AFF Cup | 2024 | Champion's reward | $300,000 |
| AFF Cup | 2024 | Runner-up prize | $100,000 |
Will the 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 running concurrently, recalling the precedent of the SEA Games having an age limit of U22 due to the existing AFF Cup. Captain Hariss Harun also noted the packed schedule: players are already busy with domestic leagues, the Asian Cup, and the national team; adding another tournament could easily lead to overload.
The signal from FIFA is an opportunity for prestige, finances, and professionalization, but the big question remains: Will the FIFA ASEAN Cup replace or run alongside the AFF Cup? The region is waiting for an answer – and if the new tournament is included in the FIFA calendar, the balance could tip towards focusing on a single competition that best represents Southeast Asia.
