31st ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Congress

29 November 2024 in Vientiane, Laos

Congress Proceedings and Key Decisions

The Congress was officially opened with welcome addresses by the President of the Lao Football Federation, Mr. Viphet Sihachakr and the President of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), Major General Khiev Sameth. Dignitaries from FIFA, the AFC, the EAFF, and commercial partner SPORTFIVE were present, highlighting the international importance of this event.

The Congress began by confirming the attendance of all 12 Member Associations. With full attendance, it was declared that the Congress had been duly convened in compliance with AFF Statutes.

Key decisions included:

The appointment of Nguyen Trung Kien (Vietnam), Gregorio Correia (Timor-Leste), and Hok Sochettra (Cambodia) to verify the official minutes.

The appointment of Muhammad Yazid Sungkar (Indonesia) and Chanthavong Sirimanotham (Laos) as scrutineers to oversee voting procedures.

Unanimous approval of the Congress agenda, the minutes of the 30th Congress held in October 2023, the General Secretary’s report for 2023, and the audited financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2023.

Das & Co was appointed as external auditors for the years 2025 and 2026.

One election was held for a vacant seat on the AFF Council representing Myanmar. Mr. Pye Phyo Tay Za was the sole candidate and was elected by acclamation in accordance with AFF statutes. He received a formal welcome and the presentation of an AFF jacket.

Key Reports, Speeches, and Presentations

The AFF President’s address provided an extensive review of the Federation’s progress and achievements in 2023. Notably, the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup set new viewership records with 438 million viewers across TV and digital platforms, 4.2 billion digital impressions, and over 400,000 spectators attending matches.

Thailand won the tournament for the seventh time, with Madame Pang managing the team to back-to-back championships.

The speech highlighted several international accomplishments from the region:

  • Australia’s women’s national team finished fourth at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, which they co-hosted with New Zealand.
  • The Philippines earned a historic victory over New Zealand in the same tournament.
  • Vietnam and Indonesia received commendation for their performances and hosting capabilities, particularly with Indonesia successfully organizing the FIFA U17 World Cup 2023.

In addition, the AFF continued to prioritize youth and women’s development. The AFF U19 Women’s Championship was hosted by Indonesia and won by Thailand. The AFF U23 Championship took place in Thailand and saw Vietnam crowned champions after a dramatic final. AFF Futsal competitions also maintained strong participation and interest.

The Federation launched new initiatives in 2023, including the AFF Member Associations Development Programme Fund and the AFF Community Fund. These aim to support infrastructure and football development at the national level. One example cited was the Philippines, which used the development fund to obtain futsal flooring for the ASEAN Women’s Futsal Championship 2024 and the FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup in 2025.

AFF’s commercial relationship with SPORTFIVE was extended through 2032, ensuring continued support for regional competitions and marketing initiatives.

Regional and International Collaboration

Remarks from AFC Deputy General Secretary Vahid Kardany and FIFA President Gianni Infantino (via video message) reinforced the strong ties between AFF and global football bodies.

Mr. Kardany emphasized ASEAN’s growing leadership within the AFC. Key highlights included:

  • Twelve of the 47 AFC member associations come from the ASEAN region.
  • ASEAN representatives now hold several top leadership positions: 3 FIFA Council seats and 7 out of 16 AFC committee chairs.
  • AFF Council members such as Dato’ Sri Zaw Zaw and others were congratulated for their elevated roles, which enhance ASEAN’s voice in global football.

Mr. Infantino underscored FIFA’s support for ASEAN through the FIFA Forward Development Programme, under which Member Associations can access up to USD 8 million and Regional Associations up to USD 5 million by the end of 2026. He also encouraged ASEAN’s continued development in women’s football, futsal, and grassroots programs such as Football for Schools, which has reached nearly two million children in the region since 2019.

Closing Remarks

The Congress concluded with closing remarks by AFF President Khiev Sameth, who thanked the delegates, partners, and supporters for their contributions. He reaffirmed his commitment to working collaboratively with the AFF Council and all Member Associations to continue strengthening football in the region.