ASEAN Southeast Asia Cup. Women
The Women's AFF Cup, or Southeast Asian Women's Cup, is a premier regional competition organized by the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). It unites top women's national teams from Southeast Asia, fostering the growth of women's football amid rising popularity and investment in the sport across the region.
History and foundation
Launched in 2004 as the AFF Women's Championship, it has been held biennially with occasional pauses, like during COVID-19. Singapore claimed the inaugural title by edging Myanmar in the final. Myanmar dominated early, securing five straight wins from 2004-2014. Vietnam triumphed in 2019 over Thailand (1-0), only for Thailand to retaliate in 2022 (2-0). A fun fact: the tournament has spotlighted underdogs, with Laos reaching semis in 2018.
Tournament format
Typically featuring 8-10 teams, it starts with two groups in a single round-robin. Group winners and best runners-up advance to semifinals, followed by the final. Host nation gets a bye. The event spans about two weeks, emphasizing high-stakes, compact scheduling.
Interesting facts
Average goals per match hover at 2.8, driven by open play from powerhouses like Vietnam and Thailand. Top scorer: Cambodia's Sohana So, with 15 goals across editions. Standouts include Vietnam's Huỳnh Như, hat-trick hero in the 2018 final; Thailand's Pim Parchaopolpol, prolific forward; and Myanmar's Yat Naing, consistent marksman. These talents have elevated the competition's profile internationally.