FIFA and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have renewed their partnership by signing a new five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur. The agreement was formalized by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, with the signing witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister and ASEAN Chair Anwar Ibrahim.
Building on the original 2019 MoU—which paved the way for initiatives like Football for Schools and regional health and education programmes—the renewed collaboration seeks to further strengthen cooperation in five key areas. These include promoting sports integrity, leveraging sport for social and economic development, advancing football both on and off the pitch, encouraging inclusion, and supporting climate resilience.
As a highlight of this expanded partnership, FIFA announced the upcoming launch of the FIFA ASEAN Cup, a new regional tournament. This competition will unite ASEAN member associations in a structure similar to the FIFA Arab Cup. According to Gianni Infantino, the new event aims to unite countries through football, boost national team performance, and promote player development across Southeast Asia.
To ensure the success of the tournament, FIFA will work closely with the Asian Football Confederation, the ASEAN Football Federation, and member associations to finalize the tournament format.
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