Pakistan Drawn in Group B with Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam in FIFA ASEAN Cup
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
Pakistan have been placed in Group B of Division One for the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, where the national football team will compete against Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.
The tournament is scheduled to run from September 24 to October 5, with Pakistan’s Division One matches set to be played in Indonesia.
Pakistan’s FIFA ASEAN Cup Fixtures
The Green Shirts will open their campaign against Thailand on September 26.
Pakistan will then face the Philippines on September 29 before completing their group-stage schedule against Vietnam on October 2.
The Division One final is scheduled for October 5.
Pakistan’s Group B Matches
- September 26: Pakistan vs Thailand
- September 29: Pakistan vs Philippines
- October 2: Pakistan vs Vietnam
- October 5: Division One Final
14 Teams to Take Part
The first edition of the FIFA ASEAN Cup will feature 14 national teams. The participating sides include all 11 ASEAN member countries along with three invited teams.
Division One consists of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, while Bangladesh and Pakistan have joined the competition as guest teams.
Division Two includes hosts Hong Kong, China, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Timor-Leste.
Both divisions have been divided into two groups, with teams playing a single round-robin format.
The winners of each group will qualify for their respective division finals. In Division One, the two group runners-up will also meet in a third-place playoff.
Tournament Venues
Matches are being staged across locations in the region, including Bandung and Jakarta in Indonesia, as well as Hong Kong, China.
According to FIFA, the competition has been introduced to provide national teams with additional competitive fixtures during the men’s international calendar while also strengthening football connections between Southeast Asia and other participating nations.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the tournament would provide players with opportunities to compete in intense regional contests while giving supporters more chances to follow international football.
Historic Opportunity for Pakistan
Pakistan’s participation represents a significant milestone for the national men’s football team, as the tournament marks its first appearance in a FIFA-organised competition.
The Green Shirts will now look to make a strong impression against three established Southeast Asian sides as they begin their campaign in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup.
