FIFA ASEAN Cup
Divided into two divisions, 11 Southeast Asian nations will compete alongside three guest teams in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Hong Kong, China and the-AFC.com takes a look at what’s in store.
Division 1
Group A
Bangladesh v Malaysia
Venue: Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (Jakarta)
Kick-off: Friday, 16:00 (UTC+7)
Indonesia v Singapore
Venue: Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (Jakarta)
Kick-off: Friday, 20:00 (UTC+7)
Indonesia will be keen to use the motivation of playing in front of their own fans to finish top of Group A and reach the final but it won’t be easy with Singapore, Malaysia and Bangladesh standing in their way.
Head coach John Herdman has called up a strong squad with Kevin Diks (Borussia Monchengladbach), Elkan Baggott (Millwall), Calvin Verdonk (Lille) and Ole Romeny (Fortuna Sittard) all included.
Indonesia’s opening match against Singapore on Friday will be a tough one as under the guidance of Gavin Lee, the four-time ASEAN champions have been improving steadily, including qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.
There will be huge interest in Malaysia on how the Johor Darul Ta’zim trio of Brad Tapp, Manuel Hidalgo and Bergson will perform on the international stage with Harimau Malaya kicking off their campaign against Bangladesh.
Bangladesh may be a guest side but head coach Thomas Dooley - with his experience in the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia - knows just what to expect and he will look to star midfielder Hamza Choudhury of Sheffield United to lead the team.
Group B
Pakistan v Thailand
Venue: Si Jalak Harupat Stadium (Bandung)
Kick-off: Saturday, 16:00 (UTC+7)
Vietnam v Philippines
Venue: Si Jalak Harupat Stadium (Bandung)
Kick-off: Saturday, 19:30 (UTC+7)
Vietnam and Thailand - who met in the 2026 ASEAN Championship final - will lock horns again as they start as favourites to qualify for the final.
Kim Sang-sik will be determined to maintain Vietnam’s recent dominance in the region and has called up a full strength squad that includes star duo midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc and forward Nguyen Dinh Bac.
Likewise, Anthony Hudson will aim to do well in the competition with a good mix of experienced and young players in the squad with influential Chanathip Songkrasin there, together with 21-year-old Iklas Sanron and Jude Soonsup-Bell who is a year older.
Philippines - with European-based players Isaiah Alakiu (Brighton & Hove Albion) and Sebastian Rasmussen (Hobro IK) in the squad - will be looking to cause upsets.
Pakistan’s challenge cannot be underestimated, especially after Nolberto Solano’s side won the 2026 Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament ahead of Maldives, Afghanistan and Bangladesh in June.
Division 2
Group A
Laos v Brunei Darussalam
Venue: Mong Kok Stadium (Hong Kong)
Kick-off: Thursday, 17:00 (UTC+8)
Laos and Brunei Darussalam get the action going in Division 2 in Hong Kong, China.
Neither side will come into this tournament in good form, however, with Laos on a four-match losing streak while Brunei Darussalam have lost their last three matches.
Hong Kong, China will kickstart their campaign on Sunday when they take on Laos and head coach Roberto Losada will leave no stone unturned to ensure they get a winning start.
Group B
Myanmar v Timor-Leste
Venue: Mong Kok Stadium (Hong Kong)
Kick-off: Thursday, 20:00 (UTC+8)
Jorn Andersen will be back in familiar surroundings with the former Hong Kong, China head coach now spearheading Myanmar’s challenge.
The Norwegian tactician will see Thursday’s tie against Timor-Leste as a chance to get three points on the board before a crunch meeting against the group’s other side Cambodia on Sunday.
Cambodia, powered by majority Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC players, will fancy their chances of winning the group and reaching the final to be played on October 3.
Photo: Football Association of Thailand
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