In a historic step for Southeast Asian football, FIFA and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have officially signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the 47th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The signing ceremony was attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, and witnessed by ASEAN Chair and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim. The new MoU builds upon the landmark agreement first established in November 2019, which has already seen impactful collaborations such as FIFA Football for Schools, regional health campaign initiatives, and educational workshops focusing on youth development and social inclusion
Speaking at the ceremony, FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized the shared mission between FIFA and ASEAN to harness the unifying power of football for positive change:
“The new agreement between FIFA and ASEAN will ensure that both organisations can help make a difference by using football as a vehicle that brings hope and joy to millions of children and young people across Southeast Asia,” said Infantino. “This partnership will help drive football development, social progress, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles all across the region.”
The five-year MoU aims to deepen collaboration across five strategic pillars:
- Promoting sports integrity and fair play.
- Leveraging sports for social and economic development.
- Ensuring sustainable football development both on and off the pitch.
- Promoting inclusion and equal opportunities through football.
- Supporting environmental resilience and climate action.
Following the signing, FIFA announced the launch of the FIFA ASEAN Cup, an exciting new tournament designed to unite Southeast Asian nations under one regional competition. Inspired by the success of the FIFA Arab Cup, the ASEAN edition will bring together all FIFA Member Associations from the region, celebrating the shared football passion of more than 650 million people.
“We are delighted to continue to show our support to the ASEAN community with the launch of the FIFA ASEAN Cup,” said Infantino. “This will be a great addition to the regional football calendar. It will not only elevate ASEAN football internationally but also provide a platform for the region’s best players to shine on the global stage. Through the FIFA ASEAN Cup, we are uniting countries and strengthening football’s role as a tool for peace, pride, and progress.”
FIFA confirmed it will work closely with key stakeholders — including the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), and the national football associations of ASEAN member countries — to finalize the format and schedule of the new competition in due course.
For ASEAN, the renewed MoU represents a significant step forward in leveraging football as a catalyst for regional unity, youth empowerment, and sustainable development. Under the watch of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia played host to this historic moment, underscoring the growing influence of Southeast Asia in global football diplomacy.
With FIFA’s global expertise and ASEAN’s regional strength, the partnership marks a new chapter in football’s evolution across the region — one that promises not only to elevate the sport, but also to inspire a new generation of young athletes and fans throughout Southeast Asia.
Credit Photo ; ASEAN
