Should the Vietnam National Team feel happy or disappointed about FIFA organizing a new ASEAN tournament?

FIFA's launch of the new FIFA ASEAN Cup could bring both opportunities and challenges for the Vietnam National Team.

At the 47th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, FIFA and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate, also announcing the introduction of the FIFA ASEAN Cup — a regional tournament aimed at promoting football development in Southeast Asia.

Right after the signing ceremony, FIFA officially unveiled the FIFA ASEAN Cup, a competition for national teams from FIFA member associations in Southeast Asia, modeled after the FIFA Arab Cup.

The tournament organized by FIFA will feature all 11 ASEAN national teams and will be held during FIFA international match windows. The FIFA ASEAN Cup is expected to take place every two or four years. It remains unclear whether the AFF Cup will continue to be held after the FIFA ASEAN Cup’s introduction.

For the Vietnam National Team, the creation of the FIFA ASEAN Cup brings several advantages but also some challenges. A tournament under FIFA’s name will certainly carry more weight in FIFA ranking points, potentially equal to official competitions like the Asian qualifiers or World Cup qualifiers. Good performance here could be a chance for Vietnam to climb the FIFA rankings significantly.

Additionally, holding the FIFA ASEAN Cup during FIFA international windows will make it easier for the V-League to schedule matches without needing extra breaks at the end of the year for the AFF Cup. A FIFA-organized tournament will also be more professional, offering higher levels of competition and quality.

However, the arrival of the FIFA ASEAN Cup also poses a challenge to Vietnam’s dominance in Southeast Asia. Since the tournament is scheduled during FIFA windows, countries like Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia can field their strongest squads, including naturalized players and those playing abroad. These top opponents will likely become much stronger, posing a real test for Vietnam, the reigning AFF Cup champions in 2024.