A new regional football tournament is set to bring 14 national teams together across Indonesia and Hong Kong this month. The inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup will begin on September 24, featuring teams from Southeast Asia and three invited sides.
The tournament will divide the participating teams into two competitive divisions, with separate finals scheduled in October. Pakistan will compete in the top-tier Division 1 alongside seven other national teams.
Eight Teams to Compete in Division 1
Division 1 will feature eight teams, including hosts Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Bangladesh and Pakistan will complete the eight-team lineup in the tournament’s top division. The teams will be divided into two groups of four for the opening stage.
After the group matches, the two section winners will advance to the first FIFA ASEAN Cup final. The Division 1 final is scheduled to take place on October 5.
As a result, the competition will give Pakistan an opportunity to face several teams from the ASEAN region.
Hong Kong to Host Division 2
Meanwhile, Hong Kong will host the tournament’s second-tier Division 2 competition. The division will feature Hong Kong, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Timor-Leste.
These six teams will be divided into two groups of three. The winners of both groups will then advance to the Division 2 final.
That final is scheduled for October 3. Therefore, both divisions will have their own knockout finale during the inaugural tournament.
FIFA ASEAN Cup Brings Regional Teams Together
The competition brings together all 11 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Timor-Leste represent the ASEAN membership.
However, the tournament will also feature three guest teams. Pakistan, Bangladesh and Hong Kong will participate alongside the 11 ASEAN sides.
The expanded format consequently gives the new tournament a broader regional character. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the competition aims to create stronger opportunities for national teams.
“The FIFA ASEAN Cup was launched to provide national teams with meaningful competitive opportunities,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
“The tournament will strengthen football ties across Southeast Asia.”
New Competition Begins September 24
The inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup will officially get underway on September 24. Indonesia will host the eight-team Division 1, while Hong Kong will stage the six-team Division 2.
The tournament will then build towards two separate finals in October. Division 2 will conclude on October 3, followed by the Division 1 final on October 5.
With 14 teams involved, the new competition will introduce a fresh international football platform across the region.
Pakistan’s inclusion in Division 1 also places the national side among the tournament’s eight top-tier participants.
The competition will now move into its inaugural edition with teams preparing for the September 24 start.
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