 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
The ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) announced on 7 December 2020 that the AFF Suzuki Cup - or the AFF Championship - would be postponed a second time, now to December 2021.
Goal brings you everything that is known about the next edition of the AFF Championship, including the format of the competition.
The draw was initially due to take place in August 2020, but was moved to a new date following the decision to move the tournament to late 2021. The AFF then initially rescheduled the draw for August 10, 2021, before eventually moving it to September 21 due to the Covid situation in Singapore, with proceedings to get underway at 3pm.
The main draw will be a virtual event streamed from Singapore and will be broadcasted LIVE across Goal's Facebook and Twitter channels.
We will not just be there for the draw itself, though, but will also provide fans across the region with a live show starring host Farrah Nair and Singapore legend Fandi Ahmad!
The LIVE show will kick off at 14:40 to get you in the mood for the upcoming draw as we discuss Fandi's own experience at the AFF Championship, the biggest stars from across the region and much more.
We will then switch to the main event at 15:00, before analysing the outcome of the draw once all participating countries have found out who they will be facing, looking at the favourites, potential grudge matches, ASEAN's biggest talents and everything else you would like to know about the 2021 AFF Suzuki Cup.
The show is being presented in association with Midea, proud sponsor of the Suzuki Cup.
Nine teams will automatically qualify for the finals, while the tenth spot will go to the qualification play-off winner between the two lowest ranked AFF teams; Brunei and East Timor.
Australia, which is also an AFF nation, at least nominally, is expected to be absent again from the competition, although there has been renewed interest in taking part in the competition due to the success of the 2018 edition's format change.
Timor-Leste vs Philippines in the 2018 edition. Photo from AFF/Lagardere
The tournament was initially due to take place between November 31 and December 31, 2020. However, the ongoing Covid-19 situation prompted the AFF to move the tournament to 2021, from April 11 to May 8, only for it to then be moved a second time, now to December 2021.
The 2018 edition did away with the host-nation format, with teams playing group-stage matches at home and away alternately, and the semi-final and final stages also held home and away. The change was successful, resulting in improved attendance as well as better gate collection.
AFF seemed keen to stick to the new format, although the Covid-19 situation could lead to the governing body reconsidering its stance.
My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi. Photo from Getty
The most recent edition was won by Vietnam under their talismanic South Korean head coach Park Hang-seo, for their second AFF Suzuki Cup title. The two legged-final was first played in Kuala Lumpur, with the visitors racing to a 2-0 lead before the hosts clawed their way back into the game to tie it 2-2. The second leg in Hanoi was an anti-climactic affair, a sixth-minute goal by Nguyễn Anh Đức sealing the win for Vietnam.
Only four countries have won the championship since it was first contested in 1996; Thailand are the most successful side with five wins, while Malaysia have won it once. Singapore have won it four times, emerging the winner everytime they were in the final match. Indonesia meanwhile are the perennial bridesmaids, having reached the final five times without ever winning it.
Thailand winning the 2014 edition. Photo by Thana Wongmanee / Goal Thailand
In June, the AFF council announced the approval of several rule changes to the competition in preparation for the 2020 edition, in line with the post-Covid 19 changes approved by FIFA earlier this year. Teams would have been allowed to list 70 players on their provisional squad, as compared to 50 previously. The competition squad had also been increased to 30 from 23, while the matchday squad would have included up to 23 players, three more players than before.
AFF Suzuki Cup: Malaysia, Singapore and each participant's full squad, captain, star player and head coach
2021-11-25
AFF Suzuki Cup: Malaysia, Singapore and each participant's full squad, captain, star player and head coach
2021-11-24
AFF Suzuki Cup: Malaysia, Singapore and each participant's full squad, captain, star player and head coach
2021-11-24
AFF Suzuki Cup: Malaysia, Singapore and each participant's full squad, captain, star player and head coach
2021-11-24
AFF Suzuki Cup: Malaysia, Singapore and each participant's full squad, captain, star player and head coach
2021-11-23
AFF Suzuki Cup: Malaysia, Singapore and each participant's full squad, captain, star player and head coach
2021-11-23
AFF Suzuki Cup: Malaysia, Singapore and each participant's full squad, captain, star player and head coach
2021-11-23
Sports |
General |
|---|---|
| News | About us |
| Football | Contact us |
| Basketball | Privacy Policy |
| Tennis | Archive |
| Hockey | |
| LiveScore |
Social |
BetOdds24 App |
Contact us |
|---|---|---|
| @BetOdds24 |
|
[email protected] |
| @BetOdds24 |
||
| Google Play |