PHNOM PENH: The Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) has welcomed a new initiative by FIFA president Giovanni Vincenzo Infantino. Infantino has announced the establishment of a new regional tournament, to be known as the FIFA Asean Cup. The competition will bring together national teams from all Asean member states to strengthen their footballing capabilities.
FFC secretary-general Keo Sareth described the creation of the FIFA Asean Cup as a significant opportunity for national teams across the region — especially for countries outside the Asean Top 5, such as Cambodia — to gain more international match experience and further develop their technical and tactical skills.
“We welcome the creation of this new tournament because, within Asean, our national team is not yet in the Top 2 or Top 3. We’re in the middle tier. Having more regional competitions like this helps us gain valuable experience and technical development,” he told The Post.
Drawing from his extensive experience in football administration, Keo Sareth explained that, in sports theory, regular matches against teams of similar or slightly higher levels can enhance performance more effectively than playing against much stronger teams.
“Competing in such tournaments is worthwhile for us. If we play against teams that are too strong, it doesn’t always help us develop. In Asean, teams like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam are ideal benchmarks,” he said.
“Playing against them allows us to gradually improve to their level, which can later enable us to reach higher standards. The new competition will definitely bring benefits to Cambodia,” he added.
Infantino announced the FIFA Asean Cup during the 47th Asean Summit, held in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, where he signed a renewed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Asean, witnessed by Asean chair Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, prime minister of Malaysia.
Under the MoU, the new regional competition for South-East Asia will be part of FIFA’s official competition calendar. The format will resemble that of the Arab Cup, a tournament created by FIFA in 2021 for Arab nations.
“The FIFA Asean Cup will be a new addition to FIFA’s competition calendar, promoting regional competition in Asean. Through this tournament, we aim to bring Asean countries closer together, enhance the quality of their national teams and support the development of football throughout South-East Asia,” said Infantino, during the signing of the MoU.
FIFA will work closely with regional partners — including the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the Asean Football Federation (AFF) and the relevant FIFA member associations — to determine the tournament’s structure before making an official announcement.
Infantino also held an informal working meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in Malaysia on October 27, to discuss Cambodian football development and enhanced cooperation with FIFA.
He expressed his hopes that the new five-year agreement between FIFA and Asean — lasting until 2029 — will ensure both institutions can use football as a vehicle to inspire hope and joy for millions of children and youth across South-East Asia. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
