Thailand dominates ASEAN Championship as Cambodia, Timor-Leste exit early

The ASEAN Championship, the premier Southeast Asian football tournament held biennially since 1996, has been led historically by the Thailand national football team, which has captured seven titles (1996, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2022) and appeared in ten finals. Singapore follows with a perfect record in finals, winning all four of its appearances (1998, 2004, 2007, 2012). Vietnam has secured two championships (2008, 2018) and finished as runner‑up twice.

In the 2026 edition, both Cambodia and Timor‑Leste have been eliminated in the group stage. Cambodia lost 2‑1 to Singapore and 5‑1 to Indonesia, leaving them with a –5 goal difference and no points. Timor‑Leste suffered a 7‑0 defeat to Vietnam, a 2‑0 loss to Singapore and a 3‑0 loss to Indonesia, failing to score in any match. Their next encounter, a dead‑rubber match between Cambodia and Timor‑Leste, is predicted to end 2‑0 in favor of Cambodia.