4-4-2024 (SINGAPORE) Football enthusiasts across South-east Asia, home to a population of over 600 million, can anticipate a surge in excitement with the introduction of the Asean Club Championship, known as the Shopee Cup, starting from the 2024-25 season.
The announcement of this prestigious tournament was made by the Asean Football Federation (AFF) on April 4 at the esteemed Raffles Singapore hotel. The revamped competition will showcase the league champions and select cup winners from various South-east Asian nations.
Ten distinguished teams, comprising two representatives each from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, alongside one team each from the Philippines and Singapore, will secure direct qualification for the tournament. Additionally, four other teams, emerging as league champions of Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, will contend for the remaining two spots in the group stage, commencing from July 17.
These 12 teams will be drawn into two groups, engaging in home-and-away fixtures in a single round-robin format. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, played over two legs, with the final also adopting a two-legged approach, culminating in the crowning of champions on May 21, 2025. Detailed scheduling arrangements will be disclosed during the tournament draw in early May.
Seamus O’Brien, President of AFF’s commercial partner Sportfive, highlighted that the champions stand to gain more than US$500,000 (S$674,000) in prize money, with each participating team in the main tournament also receiving a substantial six-figure sum. He assured that the Shopee Cup will not overlap with the Asian Football Confederation’s club competitions.
Khiev Sameth, President of AFF, expressed his conviction that the Shopee Cup will elevate Asean football to global standards and potentially serve as a gateway to the prestigious Fifa Club World Cup.
Singapore’s representation in the tournament will be led by Lion City Sailors, winners of the Singapore Cup. Notably, Singapore Premier League champions Albirex Niigata will not partake, as the tournament exclusively features home-grown clubs.
Hariss Harun, skipper of Lion City Sailors and the national team, anticipates a heightened standard of competition, expressing hopes that the tournament will foster improvement in Asean football through challenging encounters and increased prestige.
While the inception of the Asean Club Championship has been long-awaited, its success remains subject to fan engagement and interest. Former national footballer R. Sasikumar, founder of international sports marketing agency Red Card Global, expressed uncertainties regarding the level of interest in a regional club competition. He highlighted the importance of fan turnout, particularly in the knockout rounds, to truly gauge the tournament’s impact and popularity.
