Indonesia, Hong Kong to host new 14-team Fifa Asean Cup

The inaugural Fifa Asean Cup, set to commence later this month, will see 14 teams compete for the championship title. The tournament, organized by FIFA, aims to provide national football teams with valuable competitive experiences.

Participating in the prestigious Division 1 are the 11 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) - Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Pakistan - alongside Hong Kong, Pakistan and Bangladesh as guest teams. The top-tier division will be split into two sections of four teams each, with the winners facing off in the first Asean Cup final on October 5.

Meanwhile, Division 2 will be hosted by Hong Kong, with Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Timor-Leste also vying for victory. These six teams will be divided into two groups of three, with the winners advancing to the final, which will take place on October 3.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his support for the tournament, stating that its launch aims to strengthen football ties across Southeast Asia and provide national teams with meaningful competitive opportunities.