Indonesia has officially been confirmed as the host of the Premier Division of the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, with the national team drawn into Group A alongside Malaysia, Singapore and India.
The tournament draw was announced by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) on Wednesday (29 July). The competition will feature 14 teams, divided into two tiers: the Premier Division (Division 1) and the Challenge Division (Division 2).
The Premier Division consists of eight teams split into two groups of four, while the Challenge Division includes six teams divided into two groups of three.
Indonesia to Stage Premier Division Matches
Indonesia will host all Premier Division matches, while Hong Kong will host the Challenge Division.
Three non-ASEAN teams: India, Pakistan and Hong Kong, have been invited to take part in the inaugural competition, expanding the tournament beyond Southeast Asia.
According to the VFF, the FIFA ASEAN Cup will be held during the official FIFA Matchday window from 24 September to 3 October 2026, allowing participating nations to call up their strongest available players, including those based overseas.
“The tournament will be held during the FIFA Matchday period from September 24 to October 3, allowing teams to field their strongest teams, including players from abroad,” the VFF said.
The federation added that all matches will carry significance for the FIFA World Ranking.
“The results of the matches will affect the FIFA points earned, which depend on the match coefficients during the FIFA Matchday period.”
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Tournament Draw Results
Premier Division (Host: Indonesia)
Group A
Indonesia
India
Malaysia
Singapore
Group B
Vietnam
Pakistan
Thailand
Philippines
Challenge Division (Host: Hong Kong)
Group A
Hong Kong
Myanmar
Brunei Darussalam
Group B
Cambodia
Laos
Timor-Leste
The FIFA ASEAN Cup is a new regional competition included in FIFA’s official international calendar. Unlike the traditional AFF Championship, matches will be played during the FIFA international window, enabling national associations to field their strongest squads while earning FIFA ranking points.
The inaugural edition is expected to strengthen the level of competition across Southeast Asia and provide participating teams with additional high-quality international fixtures ahead of future FIFA World Cup qualification campaigns.
