In an article on 7/10, journalist John Duerden argued that Indonesia's FIFA ASEAN Cup victory could quickly be forgotten. This is partly because Southeast Asia already has a long-standing tournament for national teams, the ASEAN Cup. According to Duerden, Indonesia's triumph in the new competition does not necessarily mean they are the strongest team in Southeast Asia.

The ASEAN Cup has been held once every two years since 1996. In its 16th edition this past summer, Vietnam defeated Thailand with an aggregate score of 4-2 over two legs in the final to successfully defend its championship title.

Indonesia lifts the trophy after the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 final at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia on 5/10/2026. Photo: Hai Tu

In contrast, the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 was organized for the first time and took place during the recent FIFA Days window. The tournament brought together Southeast Asian national teams along with several invited guests, including Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The Guardian noted that the very existence of the ASEAN Cup complicates the FIFA ASEAN Cup's status. "Whether that means Indonesia is the champion of Southeast Asia, when Vietnam was successful this summer, probably depends on who you ask," Duerden wrote.

Vietnam won the ASEAN Cup on 26/8 after drawing 2-2 with Thailand in the second leg at My Dinh Stadium, securing a 4-2 aggregate victory. Coach Kim Sang-sik's team had won 2-0 in the first leg in Bangkok before holding their advantage at home. This marks Vietnam's fourth ASEAN Cup title, following wins in 2008, 2018, and 2024, and the first time the team has successfully defended the championship.

After six runner-up finishes in the ASEAN Cup, Indonesia finally secured a regional title. John Herdman's squad defeated Thailand in the FIFA ASEAN Cup final on the evening of 5/10 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, before approximately 67,000 spectators.

Key moments from the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 final between Indonesia and Thailand on 5/10.

The new FIFA final was dramatic, with the two teams drawing 2-2 after 120 minutes. Indonesia played with a man advantage from the 81st minute but could not seal the win in regular time. Thailand took the lead in extra time, but Indonesia equalized, sending the match to a penalty shootout.

Indonesia won the shootout 4-2. Kevin Diks, Dean James, Elkan Baggott, and Shayne Pattynama all converted their penalties, while Sarach Yooyen hit the post and Nattapong Sayriya's shot was saved by goalkeeper Emil Audero. This victory marked Indonesia's first official national team title in three decades.

However, according to The Guardian, Indonesia's path to victory in the new tournament was not entirely convincing. In the group stage, the host nation only topped their group due to a narrow result in the final matchday.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan lift the trophy with Vietnam after drawing 2-2 with Thailand in the second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 final at My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi on the evening of 26/8. Photo: Duc Dong

Indonesia entered their final group match against Bangladesh needing to win by a larger margin than Malaysia's victory over Singapore to advance. Malaysia won 6-0, while Indonesia led Bangladesh 7-2 as the match entered its final minutes. The host team then scored two more goals in the 96th and 97th minutes to win 9-2 and secure a spot in the semifinals.

Thailand had a smoother journey, topping their group before reaching the final. Anthony Hudson's team beat Pakistan 4-0 and Vietnam 2-0, then rotated their squad and lost 1-2 to the Philippines in their final group stage match.

The British newspaper also highlighted the images of empty stands in many matches, indicating that the new tournament has not generated significant regional appeal. Even with Indonesia and Thailand playing the final before approximately 67,000 spectators in Jakarta, the interest in the tournament still cannot compare to the standing of the ASEAN Cup.

Aside from matches involving the host nation, the FIFA ASEAN Cup often drew only a few hundred to a thousand spectators. In contrast, the ASEAN Cup 2026 attracted nearly 14,000 spectators per match.

Another point is that the FIFA ASEAN Cup was held during FIFA Days, allowing national teams to call up their strongest squads, as an increasing number of Southeast Asian players compete in Europe. Indonesia benefited most from this, utilizing many players based abroad.

Nevertheless, the addition of another tournament has not clarified the balance of titles in the region. Indonesia can call itself the FIFA ASEAN Cup champion, but Vietnam still holds the ASEAN Cup title, a tournament with a 30-year history and the traditional arena for Southeast Asian football.

The Guardian further suggested that Indonesia hosting and winning the new tournament was a favorable outcome for Infantino, as he is campaigning for support in Asia ahead of the FIFA Presidential election. Infantino was present in Jakarta to witness Indonesia receive the trophy, after also attending a second-division final in Hong Kong.

According to Duerden, the true success of the FIFA ASEAN Cup may not lie in its long-term viability, but in its impact on Infantino's standing in Asia. However, that, along with the future of the tournament, remains to be seen.

Xuan Binh (according to Guardian)