Kuala lumpur: FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Sunday announced the launch of a new regional football competition, the FIFA ASEAN Cup, which will include all 11 Southeast Asian countries.

According to Anadolu Agency, Infantino explained that the tournament will take place within the FIFA International Match Calendar to maximize its impact in a region with a population of approximately 700 million people, as reported by Malaysian state media Bernama. The initiative aims to boost football by featuring the best players within FIFA’s international match calendar framework, thereby making it impactful in the region and enhancing its global presence.

Infantino stated, “Football unites the world and together with all 11 ASEAN countries, we are creating the FIFA ASEAN Cup. It’s a tournament that will bring the region together and become a huge success.” His remarks followed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on regional football development during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The MoU was signed by Infantino and ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim present as the ASEAN 2025 chair. Infantino emphasized the commitment of the global football governing body to intensify efforts and broaden development initiatives in the region through this agreement.

He outlined three key pillars of the initiative: maintaining integrity in the game, ensuring a safe and secure environment for matches, and promoting education through football. This includes fostering development for girls, boys, women, and men across the region.