KUALA LUMPUR: Football’s world governing body International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has announced the launch of the FIFA ASEAN Cup, a new regional tournament poised to feature all 11 ASEAN member nations.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the tournament aims to revitalise football in Southeast Asia while strengthening unity among ASEAN countries through the world’s most popular sport.
“This will have an impact not only on the Southeast Asian region but also across the world,” he said after witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on football development between ASEAN and FIFA held on the side-lines of the 47th ASEAN Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Conventional Centre (KLCC) today.
The MoU was signed by Infantino and ASEAN secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn, and witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his capacity as ASEAN Chair for 2025.
For the record, this marks Timor-Leste’s debut appearance in the coveted championship following their induction as an official member of ASEAN today.
