Cambodia unveils a surprising plan for regional football

Cambodia announces a long-range plan targeting participation in the 2042 or 2046 World Cup, opening the largest aspiration ever seen in its football history.

Football Cambodia has just released a long-term development strategy with an unprecedented ambition: to secure a spot in the World Cup editions of 2042 or 2046. At the 20th Congress of the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC), President Sao Sokha was re-elected for the 2026–2030 term and simultaneously outlined an ambitious roadmap to elevate the national team.

According to the plan, Cambodia's immediate goal is to improve its standing in Southeast Asia. The team aims to reach the ASEAN Cup semifinals in 2028 or 2030, viewing this as a crucial stepping stone to strengthen competitiveness before aiming for continental tournaments.

Looking further ahead, during the 2031–2035 period, Cambodia plans to advance through qualifiers to participate in the 2032 Asian Cup. This milestone is considered essential to help players gain experience at the highest level and to narrow the gap with Asia's stronger teams.

The pinnacle of the strategy is to qualify for the 2042 or 2046 World Cup. This is an unprecedented goal for Cambodian football, as the national team has never reached the World Cup finals since entering international qualifiers.

Nevertheless, FFC leadership clearly acknowledges the challenges. President Sao Sokha emphasized three key factors: human resources, competitive time frame, and finances. Currently, Cambodia ranks 8th in Southeast Asia, with limited internal football revenue and even difficulties maintaining facilities.

Despite many obstacles, the FFC insists this is not just a slogan. The federation commits to building a detailed roadmap through each phase, restructuring youth football, enhancing the domestic league quality, and expanding international cooperation. With the new 2026–2030 term, Cambodia demonstrates determination to transform from a mid-level regional team into a contender daring to dream of the World Cup.