KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will begin its campaign in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup on Friday, with head coach Tan Cheng Hoe looking to use the tournament as part of a longer-term rebuilding process for the national team.
The FIFA ASEAN Cup’s Division 1 competition gets under way in Indonesia on 25 September, with Malaysia drawn in Group A alongside Bangladesh, Indonesia and Singapore. The tournament’s first edition features 14 national teams across two divisions, with Division 1 being staged in Indonesia.
Malaysia’s opening match will be against Bangladesh at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, followed by fixtures against Indonesia and Singapore. The Bangladesh match is scheduled for 4pm Jakarta time, or 5pm in Kuala Lumpur.
The tournament comes after a difficult period for Malaysian football. Malaysia exited in the second round of Asian Football Confederation qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and later faced a points deduction linked to a player eligibility matter, which affected its bid to reach the Asian Cup finals.
Tan, who is listed by FIFA as Malaysia’s men’s national coach, said the ASEAN Cup offered an opportunity to rebuild confidence around the national team while assessing the progress of a new group of players.
“There is a feeling that we are almost like a new team, a new set-up, and we really hope that the ASEAN Cup can bring positive things for Malaysian football, to help regain the confidence of the fans,” Tan told FIFA.
Malaysia also arrives at the tournament after giving opportunities to several younger players during last month’s Hyundai Cup. The team won three of its four group matches before losing to Vietnam in the semi-finals.
Tan identified left-back Pavithran Gunalan, Faris Danish and centre-back Ubaidullah Shamsul among the younger players who had impressed him, while also pointing to other emerging members of the national set-up.
For the ASEAN Cup, Tan said the coaching staff was seeking an appropriate balance between established players and younger talent. The competition’s placement within a FIFA international window means Malaysia can call on players who regularly feature for the national team.
The coach also views the tournament as preparation for the next World Cup and Asian Cup qualification cycles. He said the ASEAN Cup would give the team an opportunity to assess its development against regional opposition while providing international experience to its players.
Malaysia’s group will present three different challenges. Indonesia are the co-hosts and one of the teams in the group, while Singapore will renew the long-running Causeway Derby rivalry with Malaysia. Bangladesh, meanwhile, represent a less familiar opponent for the Malaysian side.
Tan said Indonesia were regarded as the leading side in the group, while Singapore’s continuity under the same coach and extended period of preparation could provide an advantage. He also highlighted Bangladesh’s experienced German-American coach Thomas Dooley.
With Malaysia scheduled to play three group matches within a week, Tan said squad depth would be important and could require player rotation.
He also said the coaching staff had ambitions for the inaugural competition, while stressing that the tournament would provide valuable exposure to the players.
In tactical terms, Tan said he favoured attacking football but recognised the need for structure and balance, particularly against stronger opponents.
The Malaysia-Singapore meeting will carry additional significance because of the long-standing rivalry between the two countries. Tan described the fixture as a contest associated with national pride and said previous meetings had often been closely fought.
The FIFA ASEAN Cup runs from 24 September to 5 October, with Division 1 matches taking place in Indonesia from 25 September. The tournament is being contested by 14 teams, including all 11 ASEAN members and three guest nations, with separate Division 1 and Division 2 competitions.
For Malaysia, the immediate focus will be on Friday’s opening match against Bangladesh before the team turns its attention to the two regional rivals in Group A.
