Hong Kong and Indonesia to host inaugural 14-team FIFA ASEAN Cup this month

An inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup will take place later this month featuring 14 teams with matches played in Indonesia and Hong Kong, organisers said on Thursday. FIFA ASEAN Cup. Photo: FIFA ASEAN Cup. The 11 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and three guest sides — Hong Kong, Pakistan and Bangladesh — will play in two divisions from September 24. Eight teams will contest the top-tier Division 1 — hosts Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Pakistan. They will be split into two sections of four with the winners contesting the first FIFA ASEAN Cup final on October 5. FIFA chief Gianni Infantino. Photo: Kremlin. The second-tier Division 2 will be hosted by Hong Kong and also involve Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Timor-Leste, split into two three-team sections with the winners advancing to a final on October 3. “The FIFA ASEAN Cup was launched to provide national teams with meaningful competitive opportunities,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino. “The tournament will strengthen football ties across Southeast Asia.” Safeguard press freedom; keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team Support HKFP | Policies & Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps Make a one-off donation. Type of Story: News ServiceProduced externally by an organization we trust to adhere to high journalistic standards. Agence France-Press (AFP) is "a leading global news agency providing fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the events shaping our world and of the issues affecting our daily lives." HKFP relies on AFP, and its international bureaus, to cover topics we cannot. Read their Ethics Code here More by AFP