Tony Popovic would "love" to see Australia field a side in future ASEAN Championship tournaments. But the Socceroos coach acknowledges that there exist logistical challenges that would need to be overcome first.
Led by naturalised striker Rafaelson, Vietnam secured their third ASEAN title earlier this month, defeating Thailand 5-3 on aggregate across the final's two legs.
The 15th staging of the tournament, all members of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) took part in the tournament in some capacity -- Brunei Darussalam losing out to Timor-Leste in a qualifying playoff -- apart from the Socceroos.
Previously having joined the Asian Football Confederation in 2006, Australia formally became part of the AFF in 2013 and its former chair Chris Nikou presently sits on its council.
Growing ties in recent years, the AFF wrote a letter of support earlier this week for Football Australia and Football Queensland's joint submission to the Queensland Government's 100-day infrastructure review for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
However, the Socceroos have never competed in an ASEAN Championship, a restriction imposed under the terms of its entrance agreement.
To date, most of its footballing participation in the region has consisted of fielding sides in junior tournaments, in addition to sending an age-restricted side to compete in the senior AFF Women's Championship.
Nonetheless, the continuing rise in standards across the AFF -- Indonesia held the Socceroos to a 0-0 draw in Jakarta in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup last September -- means talk of Australia taking part in the region's flagship men's tournament continues to simmer.
Former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold championed the prospect during his tenure and in a recent discussion with Australian media, his successor also voiced his support.
Popovic did, though, qualify his stance by acknowledging the logistical challenges associated with Australia's participation; the tournament's year-end staging occurs outside of FIFA's international windows and clashes directly with the opening months of the A-League Men season and the campaigns of Australia's European-based players.
"I'd love it," said Popovic. "The more games with the Socceroos, the better. Whether that would work in that type of competition, I don't know.
"How that would work around our local calendar, I'm not sure how that would all work with the fixturing.
"If you have a clear goal and a clear view of those tournaments, any international exposure helps players. We're crying out for our under-17s, 20s, and 23s to qualify for tournaments. Why? Because of that international experience, you can't buy it.
"You can watch it on TV. But when you're out there and you're playing in that, players grow, players get opportunities to go to bigger and better leagues.
"So if there's any chance that we could enhance the integrity of the international calendar and help our players, of course. I'd be open to that, as a coach. There's obviously a lot more to it."
Set to head to Europe in the coming days to monitor Australian players based in the region, Popovic will lead the Socceroos into World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and China in March, two games that are almost must-win if they are to secure one of Group C's two automatic qualification places for the tournament.
Melbourne Victory midfielder Ryan Teague has been touted as a potential call-up for those games but the Socceroos may have competition for his services. Australian reports have suggested that the Chinese Football Association has approached the Sydney-born 23-year-old, who is of Chinese and Malaysian heritage, about an international switch to China.
"I'm just trying to play my football at the moment," the former Olyroo said when asked about any CFA approach. "I'm going into each game not really thinking about anything else.
"I'm here at Melbourne Victory trying to do the best for the team and myself right now and whatever is happening outside, I leave that to my people that are helping me.
"I think I made it very clear about what I've wanted this season and other goals I've wanted. But none of this comes without me trying to perform week in and week out, which is what I'm trying to do."