During the FIFA Congress held in late April, FIFA reportedly reached a broad agreement with the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on the organization of the competition. Details have yet to be officially announced by world football’s governing body.

According to multiple sources, FIFA plans to invite three teams from outside Southeast Asia to the tournament: China, India and Hong Kong, China.

The three invited teams would join 11 Southeast Asian sides in a 14-team competition divided into two divisions based on the FIFA rankings. Division A would feature the eight highest-ranked teams, while Division B would consist of the remaining six.

Division A matches are expected to be staged in Indonesia, while Division B fixtures would take place in Hong Kong, China.

FIFA is expected to officially announce the competition format before June 1, 2026, giving participating teams time to prepare for the tournament slated for late September.

The inclusion of China and India is seen as a move to strengthen the tournament’s competitiveness while also attracting sponsors from the two countries. The participation of both teams is also expected to significantly increase the value of broadcasting rights.

If confirmed, Vietnam would have the chance to face China in an official tournament.

The Vietnamese side last met China in an official competition during the final round of Asian qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, securing a 3-1 victory.

Vietnam up in FIFA Rankings on ASEAN Cup performance

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