HOT: China withdraws, causing major upheaval for Vietnam's national team in FIFA tournament

China's absence from the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 has led to significant disruptions in the event's planning, also impacting Vietnam's national team readiness.

The Chinese national team has decided to skip the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, a new national team tournament organized by FIFA for the first time in the region. Instead of joining this competition, the billion-population country will take part in a five-team international friendly tournament in Chongqing. China is scheduled to face Uzbekistan, North Korea, Tajikistan, and Palestine during the FIFA Days in September and October.

According to Chinese media, these four matches are seen as an opportunity for the team to test their squad and evaluate their playing style development. China's primary goal is to prepare for the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, while also building a foundation for the 2030 World Cup qualifiers. This decision also means a spot in the top tier of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 is now vacant.

In the initial plan, the tournament was expected to feature 14 teams, including 11 Southeast Asian members and three guest teams: China, India, and Hong Kong. The teams were to be divided into two tiers based on FIFA rankings. Tier 1 would consist of eight teams: Thailand, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Malaysia, and Singapore. Tier 2 would include Hong Kong, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, and Timor-Leste.

However, after China's withdrawal, FIFA is reportedly actively seeking additional non-ASEAN teams to join. One option being considered is expanding the number of participants from 14 to 16, which would allow both tiers to have eight teams each, divided into two groups. This adjustment could also ensure that each team plays four matches during the FIFA Days window from September 21 to October 6. However, FIFA has not yet officially announced the list of additional invited teams.

The aforementioned changes could directly impact Vietnam's journey. Coach Kim Sang-sik's team is still guaranteed a spot in Tier 1 thanks to their leading position in Southeast Asia on the FIFA rankings. However, China's absence and the potential addition of new guest teams mean the group composition could be completely different from the original plan. Vietnam will therefore have to wait for FIFA's final decision before knowing their specific opponents.

The FIFA ASEAN Cup is a completely different tournament from the traditional AFF Cup. This new competition was announced by FIFA in October 2025, with the aim of promoting the development of national team football in Southeast Asia. FIFA will coordinate with the Asian Football Confederation, the ASEAN Football Federation, and member associations to finalize the format. Once the list of 14 to 16 teams is confirmed, the draw can take place, and Coach Kim Sang-sik will have a basis to build preparation plans for Vietnam's national team.