China will not participate in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup in 2026, choosing instead to host a friendly tournament in Chongqing. This event will feature host China, Uzbekistan, North Korea, Tajikistan, and Palestine. All five national teams have secured qualification for the Asian Cup 2027 and view this as important preparation.

The primary objective for China in organizing this friendly tournament is to assess its progress and opportunities in both the Asian Cup and the World Cup 2030 qualifiers. Among the four visiting teams, Uzbekistan stands out, having recently competed in the World Cup 2026 and currently holding the 60th position in FIFA's rankings. China is ranked 91st, followed by Palestine (95th), Tajikistan (101st), and North Korea (120th). For the Asian Cup 2027, China is drawn into group C, where it will face Iran, Syria, and Kyrgyzstan.

China midfielder Xu Bin (yellow jersey) playing against Cameroon in a FIFA Series 2026 friendly in Melbourne, Australia on 31/3. Xinhua

China's decision to host its own friendly tournament means it will forego participation in the FIFA ASEAN Cup, an expanded version of the Southeast Asian championship sponsored by the world football governing body. China and India received invitations in May. They were expected to contribute to a tournament uniting 14 nations, representing approximately 3,5 billion people, or 44% of the world's population.

The full list of teams for the FIFA ASEAN Cup has not yet been announced by FIFA. According to regulations, the tournament will comprise 14 national teams. This includes the 11 Southeast Asian nations: Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Timor Leste, and Brunei. For the three guest slots, India and Hong Kong have already accepted their invitations.

The 14 national teams will be divided into two divisions, with placement likely determined by FIFA rankings prior to the draw. Division one is expected to be hosted in Indonesia, while division two will be held in Hong Kong. Each division will be further split into two groups, with teams competing in a single round-robin format. In both divisions, the top team from each group will advance to the final, and the two second-place teams will play for third place. Matches to determine positions 5-6 and 7-8 have not yet been planned. Consequently, participating teams will play a minimum of two matches and a maximum of four, fitting within the approximate 15-day international break.

The inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup will take place during the new extended FIFA Days window, effective from 2026. This new schedule combines the national team breaks in September and October into a single three-week period, running from 21/9 to 6/10.

FIFA's direct organization of this tournament is expected to elevate Southeast Asian football and provide additional international exposure for national teams. President Infantino emphasized that FIFA remains committed to global football development through new initiatives, asserting football's role in connecting nations and promoting peace.

With the introduction of this new tournament, Southeast Asian national teams will participate in two regional competitions in 2026. The traditional Southeast Asian Championship – ASEAN Cup (formerly known as the AFF Cup) – is currently scheduled from 24/7 to 26/8. This biennial tournament has been held since 1996, with Vietnam as the reigning champion. However, being held during the FIFA international windows allows the FIFA ASEAN Cup to gather the strongest squads from national teams. Consequently, the quality of matches is expected to be higher than that of the traditional ASEAN Cup.

Hieu Luong