The Laos Football Federation has ordered the police to investigate national team players suspected of match-fixing in the 2026 ASEAN Cup.
On 14 Aug 2026, after Laos lost all four group B matches in the 2026 ASEAN Cup—losing 0-5 to Thailand, 0-4 to Malaysia, 1-4 to the Philippines, and 2-7 to Myanmar, conceding 20 goals in total—several suspicious incidents emerged. These raised concerns about possible match-fixing, including two own goals scored by players and three red cards issued to Laos players. Laos was the only team in the tournament with such a record.
Reports state that earlier, the Laos Football Federation (LFF) summoned all players for questioning on 2 and 6 August. Based on preliminary data and collected evidence, the federation judged that wrongdoing was highly likely. Consequently, on 13 August, they officially referred the case to the National Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security of Laos for investigation. However, the federation's letter did not specify the names of the suspected players.
This is not the first time Laos football has faced allegations of match-fixing. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced an investigation in November involving four players who were temporarily suspended for 60 days, covering matches including the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. There were also suspicions that the issue extended to youth levels.
Subsequently, the Laos Football Federation announced lifetime bans for 45 players related to match-fixing cases. The federation's vice president stated that they consistently train and instill discipline in athletes before every international competition, but these players ignored such guidance and prioritized personal gain over national interests.