Vietnam’s national footballers celebrate a goal. Photo: VOV

“AFC Nations League represents an important step forward in our ongoing commitment to support the development of our 47 member associations,” AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John said in a statement.

He added that by introducing a structured competition platform during FIFA international windows, with more stable scheduling and clear sporting incentives, they aim to ensure consistent access to high-quality matches while addressing the logistical and cost-related challenges faced by national teams. 

The proposed competition is designed to ensure that national teams play regular international matches against opponents of comparable strength, helping improve competitiveness across the continent.