Hanoi, 21 May 2024: With Tuesday’s Official Draw for the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ 2024 throwing up an array of intriguing contests, we have moved one step closer to the biggest football event in Southeast Asia and the excitement is fast building among the participating nations and their supporters.
The draw held in Hanoi pitted defending champions Thailand alongside Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia and one of Timor-Leste or Brunei Darussalam in Group A while last edition’s runners-up Vietnam will do battle with Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Laos in Group B.
With just around six months to go for the 15th edition of the prestigious tournament which will be held from 23 November to 21 December, the draw also provided the head coaches of the ASEAN national teams with a first taste of the challenges ahead as they learned about the opponents they will have to better if they are to get their hands on the most coveted prize in the region.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Official Draw, Vietnam’s Kim Sang-sik, who took the helm of the Golden Star Warriors earlier this month and will make his ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup debut later this year, said he’s already feeling excited about the 2024 edition. "The tournament might still be some months away, but it feels as if it has already begun with this Official Draw,” the Korean tactician said.
“My aim is to prepare well and get the players playing as a single unit, and if we can do that, we will be able to get good results in the competition and bring joy to the Vietnamese supporters,” said Kim, who helped Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors win the K League 1 and Korean FA Cup titles during his two-and-a-half year reign in Jeonju.
“It feels like there are no easy teams to face in this tournament but I also have a feeling no team is unbeatable, so if we do our job, we can hopefully bring a third ASEAN title home,” the Vietnam head coach added.
His Singapore counterpart Tsutomu Ogura also shared Kim’s enthusiasm when it came to taking his team to the biennial contest. "I have heard that every nation in Southeast Asia is excited about the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup™ and also that the atmosphere at the stadiums is fantastic. I cannot wait to get started in this tournament," said the Lions head coach.
Talking about the four-time champions’ chances in the upcoming tournament, Japanese tactician Ogura said: "Football is all about high intensity and the sport demands a lot from the players as well these days. I want to try and bring that intensity to Singaporean football.”
Meanwhile, Thailand have emerged ASEAN champions in four of the last five editions of the tournament and will go for a hat-trick of titles in 2024 – this time under former Kashima Antlers and Buriram United boss Masatada Ishii who has set the bar high for the War Elephants.
"We were the champions last time around and we know that our supporters will expect us to become champions again in 2024. So, we want to make the Thai fans happy again by winning this trophy again," said the Thailand head coach.
“There is always pressure on Thailand, but for me, it's the pressure that gives me the power to fight more. I believe that will be the same for my players too,” Ishii added.
One of the sides trying to stop them from winning a record-extending eighth title will be Malaysia who will kick off their campaign in Group A alongside the Thais. “Thailand are the defending champions of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup while we always have a strong rivalry against our neighbours Singapore. Cambodia are also a very good team, so it’s a very interesting draw,” said their head coach Kim Pan-gon.
The ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024 also comes at a time when ASEAN nations are proving their might at the continental stage with the likes of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia all in contention for a place in the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers while the Thais and Indonesians also giving a good account of themselves at the AFC Asian Cup held earlier this year.
“Every country in Southeast Asia is trying to improve on and off the field. That is why I am here -- to help Thailand develop and thereby help Southeast Asian football grow,” said Ishii.
Malaysia’s Kim, meanwhile, added: “A lot of development has happened among the Southeast Asian teams over the last few years and we are challenging at the Asian level now. I am very happy to see ASEAN football rising up.”
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