The stage is set for a highly anticipated edition of Southeast Asia’s premier international football tournament following the Official Draw for the ASEAN Hyundai Cup™ 2026, held in Jakarta on Thursday. As the ASEAN Championship celebrates its 30th anniversary, defending champions Vietnam and seven-time winners Thailand headline two competitive groups that promise compelling action when the tournament kicks off later this year.
Vietnam, who secured their third ASEAN title in 2024 with a dramatic 5–3 aggregate victory over Thailand in the final, have been drawn into Group A. The reigning champions will open their title defence against Singapore and will also face Indonesia, Cambodia, and the winner of the Qualifying Round Play-Off between Brunei Darussalam and Timor-Leste.
Group B features the tournament’s most decorated side, Thailand, who have lifted the trophy seven times since the competition’s inception in 1996. The War Elephants will face Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Laos as they look to add another chapter to their storied ASEAN Championship history.
The biennial tournament, now in its 16th edition, will run from July 24 to August 26 and will feature 11 Southeast Asian nations competing to be crowned ASEAN champions. The Group Stage will be played in a home-or-away, single round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout rounds.
Before the Group Stage begins, Brunei Darussalam and Timor-Leste will contest a two-legged Qualifying Round Play-Off for the final spot in Group A. Brunei will host the first leg on June 2, with the return fixture scheduled for June 9 in Timor-Leste.
The knockout phase will see the semifinals played over two legs, with first-leg matches on August 15 and 16 and return legs on August 18 and 19. The tournament will culminate in a two-legged final on August 22 and 26.
The Hyundai Cup™ 2026 Official Draw results:
| GROUP A | GROUP B | |||
| A1 | VIETNAM | B1 | THAILAND | |
| A2 | SINGAPORE | B2 | MALAYSIA | |
| A3 | INDONESIA | B3 | PHILIPPINES | |
| A4 | CAMBODIA | B4 | MYANMAR | |
| A5 | PLAY-OFF WINNER | B5 | LAOS | |
| QUALIFYING ROUND PLAY-OFF | |||
| JUNE 2 | 1st LEG | BRUNEI DS v TIMOR-LESTE | BRUNEI |
| JUNE 9 | 2nd LEG | TIMOR LESTE v BRUNEI DS | TIMOR-LESTE |
The draw was conducted in accordance with established seeding principles, with defending champions Vietnam placed in position A1 and runners-up Thailand assigned to B1. To ensure smooth operational delivery and uphold competition values, Cambodia was pre-assigned to Group A, ensuring they would not be drawn alongside Thailand.
Speaking after the draw, ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) President Major General Khiev Sameth highlighted the significance of the occasion. “With the completion of the Draw, the ASEAN Hyundai Cup™ 2026 moves confidently into its next chapter. The Draw results highlight the rising quality, competitiveness and ambition of football across our region, setting the stage for a compelling 30th anniversary of the ASEAN Championship when it begins in July,” he said.
Hyundai Motor Asia Pacific President Don Romano echoed those sentiments, underlining the tournament’s unifying power across the region. “Through our synergy with the ASEAN Football Federation, the Hyundai Cup™ serves as a powerful platform that unites people, bringing millions of fans in ASEAN together as one family,” Romano said.
SPORTFIVE Asia President and Chairman Seamus O’Brien described 2026 as a milestone year for the competition, noting that the partnership with Hyundai signals a new era for the championship. “2026 is a particularly momentous year in ASEAN Championship history. This year, as we celebrate its 30th anniversary, we are also beginning a new chapter for the event with title partner Hyundai Motor Company who have championed football worldwide for nearly as many decades. We are excited about making Hyundai Cup™ 2026 the biggest, most memorable edition yet, together with the millions of ASEAN fans whose exuberance and passion are second to none!”
The tournament continues to grow in stature and reach. The 2024 edition attracted record-breaking audiences, with 541 million viewers across television and digital platforms, while social media channels generated nearly 13 billion video views.
Cambodia head coach Koji Gyotoku said the challenge in Group A would be significant, with Vietnam and Indonesia among the strongest teams in the region. ““It’s really difficult. Vietnam and Indonesia are strong countries. Before I say our target is to get to the knockout stages, the semi-finals, so we have to make an effort and try our best to make a good game. It’s not easy, but this is the chance we have. We don’t know which country is home and away but for our home games, we have to win. And against Indonesia and Vietnam also we will try to win.””
Philippines head coach Carles Cuadrat said the draw would provide a very interesting test for his team, noting that every side in the group was capable of causing problems. “We know it’s going to be a very interesting test for us. We know that all the teams can get you in trouble but we are positive about our chances and we are excited about the tournament. Thailand are always in the top stages of the competition and we played them in the semi-finals in the last edition, so it will be a very interesting match.”
Thailand head coach Anthony Hudson said he was pleased with how the group had been drawn, while emphasising that there would be no easy matches. “We’re happy with the group, how it’s all been placed. There will be no easy games, all the teams are very competitive but we’re really pleased with the draw. When you look at the other group, you’ve got Indonesia and Vietnam. They’re all complicated groups. We’re in a group where all the games will be complicated and tough but if we had to pick a group, this is what we would pick.”
Indonesia head coach John Herdman said there was no easy draw in the tournament, regardless of whether teams were placed in Group A or Group B. I don’t know if we fancy Vietnam, I think they’re a tough team. There’s no easy draw, Group A or B here. The reality is, at this time of year, with the FIFA window closed, clubs will put pressure on players and now you’re going to be relying on players who have been dying to represent their country. Operating with depth is typically what these tournaments are about. I’ve had experience of this in CONCACAF in the Gold Cup and usually they’re amazing experiences because these players bring a completely different energy and if you can harness that, then you have a chance of winning it.”
Indonesia defender Rizky Ridho said Group A would not be easy but stressed that the team would give their best in pursuit of the title. “It’s not an easy group but we will try our best. We have been six times finalists but we don’t get the championship, so we will try our best to get the trophy. I hope we can make the next step. The target is always to get the trophy and we always try to do our best. We like the pressure, we love it so hopefully we can give everything to our supporters.”
Finally, Singapore head coach Gavin Lee said the draw promised exciting matches and confirmed that his team had not expected an easy group. “There’s going to be some exciting games. It’s not going to be easy but that’s something we already expected before the draw, that there won’t be any easy group. To be honest, we relish the challenge. As part of our preparation for the Asian Cup, we want to be pushed, to be tested, to be put in uncomfortable positions and we’ve got that with this draw.”
Photo Credit: SPORTFIVE
Further details regarding match schedules, venues and kick-off times will be announced on Friday, January 16. Fans can follow updates year-round via ASEANUtdFC.com and the official @aseanutdfc social media channels.
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