ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - FIFA has announced the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, with Pakistan among 14 national teams set to compete in the new tournament.
The tournament will be held from September 24 to October 5, with matches taking place in the Indonesian cities of Bandung and Jakarta, as well as in Hong Kong.
The competition will feature all 11 ASEAN member nations, along with three invited teams.
Pakistan has been placed in Division One alongside Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
FIFA is pleased to announce key details of the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup™, which will bring together national teams from across Southeast Asia and guest nations from the wider region between 24 September and 5 October. This year’s competition will be staged in Bandung and… pic.twitter.com/p9SZkd4YGo
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) September 10, 2026Division Two will comprise hosts Hong Kong, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Timor-Leste.
The two divisions will each be split into two groups, with teams facing one another in a single round-robin format.
The group winners will advance to the final to compete for the title, while the Division One runners-up will contest a third-place playoff in Indonesia.
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According to FIFA, the tournament aims to provide national teams with greater competitive opportunities while promoting football across the region and strengthening sporting ties among participating nations.
The inaugural edition is expected to provide Pakistan with a valuable opportunity to test itself against a range of teams from Southeast and East Asia while gaining further international competitive exposure.