According to the plan, the FIFA ASEAN Cup will be held between September and October 2026. This is considered consistent with the direction of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who wants to include the tournament in FIFA's official international match calendar.
The Vietnamese national team benefits from the FIFA ASEAN Cup tournament being held (Photo: VFF).
Notably, the FIFA ASEAN Cup is recognized as an official FIFA tournament, so participating teams will receive significant ranking points, unlike the AFF Cup 2026.
This is an opportunity for the Vietnamese national team to improve their ranking on the FIFA rankings. Currently, the "Golden Star Warriors" are ranked 103rd in the world after FIFA returned points for their victory over Malaysia.
The FIFA ASEAN Cup is scheduled to take place about a month after the AFF Cup (held in July-August). This is the first time since 1998 that the tournament has been moved to the middle of the year, instead of the end of the year as was previously the case.
From a professional perspective, the FIFA ASEAN Cup promises to create a high-quality competitive environment, complementing the region's existing competition system. For member federations, including Vietnam, the FIFA ASEAN Cup is not only a new playing field but also an opportunity to assert their position, increase their influence, and promote professionalization.
The Vietnamese national team is the reigning AFF Cup champion (Photo: Huong Duong).
In the context of Vietnamesefootball aiming for long-term goals at the continental and global levels, participating in and effectively utilizing this arena will have a positive development significance.
Information regarding the organization and format of the FIFA ASEAN Cup will be announced by FIFA in the near future.