FIFA and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed a renewed five-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Saturday during the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur to strengthen collaboration in football development and regional social progress.
The MoU was signed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and ASEAN secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn, in the presence of ASEAN chair and Malaysian prime minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Bin Ibrahim. It builds on a 2019 agreement that led to several initiatives, including the FIFA Football for Schools programme, health awareness campaigns and educational workshops.
Infantino said the agreement would allow both organisations to make a difference by using football as a means of bringing hope and joy to children and young people in the region.
The new MoU outlines five focus areas: promoting sports integrity, leveraging football for development, enhancing football structures on and off the pitch, promoting inclusion, and supporting climate change resilience.
FIFA also announced the launch of the FIFA ASEAN Cup, a regional competition modelled on the FIFA Arab Cup, featuring national teams from Southeast Asia. The tournament format is yet to be finalised.
FIFA confirmed it will coordinate with the Asian Football Confederation, ASEAN Football Federation and national football bodies to organise the event.
