One of the unquestioned highlights of the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 is the regional rivalries that are set to play out right across Southeast Asia.

Few areas on the planet have the same passion for their national teams and the associated pride that comes with defeating a geographical or historical rival than that which constantly attracts fans to the AFF Championship.

Whilst there are some potential blockbuster clashes that could play out in the semi-finals, the group stage too has some notable match-ups that will not only settle bragging rights but also help propel some nations to glory and condemn others to misery.

It’s all on the line, then, in these three huge derby clashes and you can vote for which you think will be the biggest of them all.

 

MALAYSIA vs SINGAPORE

One of the biggest derbies in Asian football is also likely a huge clash in deciding the fate of both Malaysia and Singapore as it comes in the final round of matches in Group B of the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup.

This clash was actually the very first match ever played at the AFF Championship way back in 1996 and over the eight meetings between the pair at the tournament things are finely balanced with three wins apiece and two draws.

Everything is set up then for the latest thrilling instalment of the Causeway Derby at Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Malaysia on January 3.

THAILAND vs INDONESIA

Whilst this isn’t a clash between neighbours that share a border it’s nonetheless grown into a fierce rivalry where Indonesia will be desperate to finally end what seems like a curse against Thailand at the latter stages of the AFF Championship.

Amazingly, of the record six titles won by Thailand, no fewer than four of those came after victory against Indonesia in the final, including in two of the past three editions.

To make matters even worse for the Garuda they also lost in the semi-finals of the 2008 tournament against a Thailand side that just can’t seem to stop winning this match-up – will things be the same when they meet in Jakarta on December 29?

LAOS vs VIETNAM

This pair of northern neighbours share a land border that stretches some 2,100 kilometres and have long been entwined with each other socially, culturally and politically.

In football terms, as we heard from then captain Thothilath Sibounhuang ahead of their meeting at the 2018 tournament, it’s a rivalry built on ‘respect and admiration for each other.’

Unfortunately for Laos, it’s also been quite a lopsided one with Vietnam having won eight of the nine meetings at the AFF Championship with the one outlier being a 1-1 draw back at the tournament’s first edition in 1996 where Laos were just five minutes away from recording a famous win.

Will the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 finally be the stage for that breakthrough victory when the teams clash in Vientiane on December 21?

Poll will end on Friday, December 16 at 15:00 SGT