Vietnam drawn with Thailand in inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026
VOV.VN - Vietnam has been drawn into Group B of Division 1 alongside Thailand, Pakistan, and the Philippines for the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, according to an official announcement from FIFA.
The FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 is the first regional tournament directly managed and operated by FIFA, separate from the traditional ASEAN Championship.
Scheduled during the FIFA international match calendar from September 24 to October 3, 2026, the competition enables national teams to summon their strongest squads, including overseas players. Results will officially count toward the FIFA World Rankings.
The tournament features a two-tier structure. Division 1 matches will take place in Indonesia, while Division 2 will be hosted in Hong Kong (China).
In Division 1, Group A includes host Indonesia, India, Malaysia, and Singapore, while Group B consists of Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Division 2 consists of Hong Kong (China), Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, and Timor-Leste.
The two-tier system is designed to elevate competitiveness by pairing teams of similar levels, thereby narrowing performance gaps and offering promotion-relegation incentives for future editions.
FIFA noted that official match schedules and tournament regulations will be released in the coming time as member associations complete registration formalities.
Vietnam maintains top 100 spot in latest FIFA rankings ahead of ASEAN Cup 2026
VOV.VN - The Vietnam national football team has retained its place in the global top 100 in the July 2026 FIFA rankings, offering a strong boost ahead of its title defense at the upcoming ASEAN Cup 2026.
