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| (Image Source: Manila Standard/Kaya Futbol Club) |
Iloilo’s Kaya Futbol Club is the Philippines’ official representative in the first-ever ASEAN Shopee Cup, a tournament featuring fourteen clubs from ten ASEAN countries vying for a slice of the US$3M prize fund. The much-anticipated championship kicks off in July 2024 following the recent official draw held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. To kick off the tournament, Young Elephants FC (Laos) will face Svay Rieng FC (Cambodia) and Kasuka FC (Brunei) will battle Shan United FC (Myanmar) in two thrilling home-and-away qualifying play-offs on July 17th and 24th. These matches will determine the final two teams joining the group stage, setting the stage for an exciting regional club championship.
Two groups of six teams each will compete across five midweek match days following a single round-robin format with both home and away matches played. Clubs from the same country will be strategically scheduled to avoid playing each other during the initial phase. Group A will consist of Thailand’s League 1’s BG Pathum United FC, facing off against Terengganu FC (Malaysia), PSM Makassar (Indonesia), and Ðông Á Thanh Hóa FC (Vietnam). Two more teams will join the group after the qualifying round playoffs conclude. Meanwhile, Group B will feature Buriram United FC from Thailand as well as Kuala Lumpur City FC (Malaysia), Công An Hà Nôi FC (Vietnam), and Borneo FC (Indonesia). Kaya FC (Philippines) and Lion City Sailors (Singapore) complete the line-up. The top two finishers from each group will advance to the semi-finals which will be played on April 2 and 30, 2025 on a home-and-away basis. The finals to be held on May 14 and 21, 2025 will follow the same format.
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| (Image Source: Filipino Football/ASEAN Football Federation) |
“We’re delighted to be another step closer to the kick-offs after finalizing the draw for the 2024/25 ASEAN Shopee Cup. After years of tireless effort from everyone involved, the championship is finally coming to life and the matchups are promising an exciting season. We look forward to having the Shopee Cup™ become a platform for the region’s best clubs to test themselves and elevate the overall standard of the game," said ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) President Major General Khlev Sameth. Shopee's Regional Marketing Lead Huiyan Pan added, “As a fun-loving brand, we hope that Shopee Cup™ will not only bring enjoyable moments to fans, but also unite the ASEAN football community in a celebration of skill and passion. Shopee Cup fans can look forward to exclusive merchandise on Shopee, win coins by playing our half-time Shopee Shake games in-app, engage in special star players content and giveaways on Shopee Live and Shopee Video. We cannot wait for you to catch the Shopee Cup trophy in-person, as it tours across the region.”
Match venues and kick-off times will be announced at a later date. Fans eager to catch the action online can tune in via the newly-launched ASEAN United FC, the official digital hub for all four major AFF tournaments including the Shopee Cup. Visit aseanutdfc.com or follow @aseanutdfc on social media platforms.
