Suzuki Motor Corporation will title sponsor this year’s Asean Football Championship for the fourth successive occasion, and once again enjoy an association with an event that has unrivalled fan support in the region.
The biennial event kicks off on Nov 22 and will be co-hosted by Singapore and Vietnam, with the official draw due to take place in Hanoi on Aug 5.
“The AFF Suzuki Cup embodies the same excitement and passion as Suzuki’s ‘Way of Life!’ global slogan,” said Toshihiro Suzuki, director and executive vice-president for global marketing at Suzuki Motor Corporation.
The Japanese corporation title sponsored the event in 2008, 2010 and 2012, and the partnership has enabled the company to see the tournament flourish with each passing season.
“This great competition is the biggest football event in Southeast Asia and allows Suzuki to heighten our brand awareness,'' said Suzuki.
Defending champions Singapore, along with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam will take part in the competition, which was first played in 1996.
They will be joined by two teams from a qualifying competition in Laos from Oct 12-20 that will include Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, Timor-Leste and the host nation.
“We are looking forward to one of the finest AFF Suzuki Cups later this year,” said Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, president of the Asean Football Federation.
“The AFF Suzuki Cup is virtually guaranteed full houses in Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
''With the new 55,000 seat National Stadium in Singapore to be used we are in for a very special month of football.”
The group stages will be played from Nov 22-29 in Singapore and Vietnam, followed by the semi-finals and the final from Dec 6-20 which will be played on a home and away basis.
Singapore won a record fourth title by beating Thailand 3-2 on aggregate in the two-legged final in the previous edition in 2012.