KARACHI: Pakistan have been drawn in Group B of Division One of the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, where they will face Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.
The tournament is scheduled to be held from September 24 to October 5, with Division One matches taking place in Indonesia.
Pakistan will begin their campaign against Thailand on September 26 before facing the Philippines on September 29. The Green Shirts will complete their group-stage fixtures against Vietnam on October 2.
The Division One final is scheduled for October 5.
Pakistan placed among eight Division One teams
The inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup will feature 14 national teams, including all 11 ASEAN member countries and three guest teams. The tournament has been divided into two divisions to provide teams with additional competitive opportunities.
Division One features Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, along with guest teams Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Division Two comprises hosts Hong Kong, China, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Timor-Leste.
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Each division has been split into two groups, with teams playing a single round-robin format. The winners of the two groups in each division will qualify for their respective finals.
The runners-up in Division One will also compete in a third-place playoff.
Tournament to strengthen regional football ties
The competition will be staged across Bandung and Jakarta in Indonesia, as well as Hong Kong, China.
According to FIFA, the tournament has been introduced to provide national teams with meaningful competitive opportunities during the Men’s International Match Calendar while strengthening football ties across Southeast Asia and the wider region.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the competition would provide players with an opportunity to represent their countries in high-intensity regional rivalries while creating new avenues for fans to engage with international football.
For Pakistan, the tournament represents a significant milestone as the men’s national team will make its first-ever appearance in a FIFA tournament.
The Green Shirts will now look to make the most of the opportunity when they begin their campaign against Thailand on September 26.
