MYANMAR plans to join six other Asian countries, including the four co-hosts of the 2007 Asian Cup, in the King’s Cup football tournament in Bangkok in December, the Myanmar Football Federation confirmed on Tuesday.

MFF general secretary U Benny Tin Aung said the side had applied to the Ministry of Sport for official permission to participate in the December 20-30 event and were now awaiting a response.

“If we get permission, we will compete in it,” he said.

Myanmar would face Asian Cup hosts Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as Kazakhstan and Singapore, the Football Association of Thailand told Reuters.

Thailand will field two teams in the December tournament which acts as a prelude to the ASEAN Football Federation Cup it is due to host with Singapore from January 12 to February 3. The Asian Cup runs from July 7 to 29.

The Bangkok tournament could dent Myanmar plans to host its second Challenge Cup the same month.

In October, the MFF said it had invited national teams from Singapore, Indonesia, and Bangladesh to compete in the Mandalay-based event.
U Benny Tin Aung said on Tuesday the federation had not received any responses from the invited teams but it was not yet giving up hope.

“As we haven’t received any reply from them, we will now send out invitation letters to all of them again and wait for replies,” he said.

Thrity-three top Myanmar footballers have been in a training camp since October in preparation for the ASEAN Cup in January and the country’s two Olympic pre-qualifying matches against India in February.