KUALA LUMPUR — Veteran sports analyst Datuk Pekan Ramli has voiced firm support for the proposed FIFA Asean Cup, describing it as a “long-overdue breakthrough” that could finally elevate Southeast Asian football to international relevance.
His remarks followed reports that FIFA is in advanced talks to introduce the Asean Cup, a new regional competition that would be officially included in the FIFA international calendar.
“It’s about time our region has a tournament under FIFA,” Pekan told Scoop.
“For too long, the AFF Championship has been unrecognised — no ranking points, no mandatory player release. Many clubs don’t even release their best players because it’s not sanctioned. With the Asean Cup, that will change. Every nation can finally field its strongest side.”
He said the FIFA-backed event could boost the region’s credibility and unlock new commercial value.
“This isn’t just about football pride,” he said. “It’s a chance to create a commercially strong product that attracts global sponsors, television rights, and international media attention. It will also provide a proper stage for Asean players to be noticed by clubs abroad.”
Pekan urged stakeholders to look beyond political speculation surrounding FIFA’s involvement.
“Even if there are political elements, we shouldn’t lose focus,” he said. “Asean football has been stagnant for nearly a century — not one senior team has qualified for the World Cup since 1930. If this initiative can move us forward, it deserves support.”
While the debate intensifies, Pekan remains steadfast in his belief that the FIFA Asean Cup could be the turning point for Southeast Asian football — if the region unites behind the idea.
“Asean must move as one,” he stressed. “This shouldn’t be about regional bragging rights. It should be a platform to share knowledge, raise standards, and help one of our nations finally reach the World Cup.
“When that happens, we should all be proud to say — ‘you lead, others follow.’”
Pekan proposed that the FIFA Asean Cup be an open-age competition, while the AFF Championship could be restructured as an Under-23 event to focus on youth development.
“If we want real champions, don’t limit the age group,” he said.
“Let the Asean Cup be the ultimate senior platform, and the AFF Cup serve as a developmental stage for young players.”
He added that national football associations would need to synchronise their league calendars with FIFA’s schedule to avoid fixture congestion.
“This won’t burden players if it’s planned properly,” Pekan said. “Once it’s part of the FIFA calendar, coordination becomes easier and more structured.”
However, former national footballers with extensive AFF Championship experience — both of whom spoke to Scoop on condition of anonymity — criticised the idea, calling the proposed FIFA Asean Cup “a waste of money and resources.”
“This is politics disguised as progress,” said one former AFF Cup winner. “We already have a senior tournament. Instead of creating another, just transform the AFF Cup into an Under-23 competition to nurture future talent.”
Another former international warned that the new competition would strain Asean football associations financially and confuse sponsors.
“Most associations are already stretched thin,” he said. “Now they’ll have to fund two similar events. This overlap could deter corporate investors, who might see it as disorganised and politically driven.”
Since its inception in 1996, the AFF Championship — formerly known as the Tiger Cup — has gone through several commercial rebrandings. Past title sponsors include Tiger Beer, Suzuki Motor Corporation, and, currently, Hyundai Motor Company, which took over in 2022.
Despite its popularity, the tournament has struggled to establish a sustainable revenue-sharing model among member nations — a gap that supporters of the FIFA Asean Cup believe the new framework could finally address. — November 1, 2025