by BERNAMA / pic credit: AFF Suzuki Cup FB

KUALA LUMPUR – Singapore has been appointed to host the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup from Dec 5 this year to Jan 1 next year.

A brief announcement on the appointment was made on the AFF Suzuki Cup Facebook page today.

On Sept 21, AFF president Major General Khiev Sameth said the tournament, which was previously held on a home-and-away format, would be played at a centralised venue this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic from the group stage until the final.

The tournament, which was supposed to have been held late last year, was postponed a year due to the pandemic.

Malaysia had been drawn in Group B with defending champions Vietnam, arch rivals Indonesia as well as Cambodia and Laos.

Group A features hosts Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines and the winner of the qualifier between Brunei and Timor-Leste.

Malaysia emerged champions in 2010 and finished runners-up in 1996, 2014 and 2018, placing them among four nations to have won the biennial tournament since it began in 1996.

Thailand have won the title five times (1996, 2000, 2002, 2014 and 2016), followed by Singapore four times (1998, 2004, 2007 and 2012) and Vietnam twice (2008 and 2018).