Harimau Malaya aim to turn new-look squad into winning start at Fifa Asean Cup

Malaysia, led by interim head coach Tan Cheng Hoe, will compete in Group A of the Fifa Asean Cup 2026 against Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Singapore from September 25 to October 5.

New arrivals Bergson da Silva, Manuel Hidalgo, and Brad Tapp offer Malaysia added attacking options, although their presence doesn't ensure a deep tournament run.

This tournament, introduced at the Asean Summit, aims to foster community and development through football, providing Malaysia a platform to boost supporter confidence and regional competitiveness.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 — The Fifa Asean Cup 2026 kicks off this week with Malaysia looking to turn a new chapter into a fresh start as the Harimau Malaya seek to rebuild confidence and show they can still mix it with South-east Asia’s big guns.

Malaysia have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Indonesia, Bangladesh and Singapore for the inaugural Division 1 tournament, which will be played in Jakarta and Bandung from September 25 to October 5.

Interim head coach Tan Cheng Hoe’s side open their campaign against Bangladesh at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Friday before facing traditional rivals Indonesia at the same venue on Monday.

They then wrap up their group campaign against Singapore at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung on October 1.

Adding intrigue to Malaysia’s campaign is the arrival of new naturalised and heritage players Bergson da Silva, Manuel Hidalgo and Brad Tapp, giving Cheng Hoe more options and attacking dimensions.

Bergson brings experience and a proven eye for goal, while Tapp is expected to add strength and balance in midfield. Hidalgo, meanwhile, offers another attacking option on the flank with his pace and ability to create chances.

Their arrival does not guarantee Malaysia a deep run, but it certainly gives Cheng Hoe more pieces to work with as he navigates three group matches in the space of a week.

Beyond the tournament itself, the campaign could also provide valuable building blocks for a side preparing for the Fifa World Cup 2030/AFC Asian Cup 2031 qualifiers, which are scheduled to begin in March next year.

On paper, Bangladesh, ranked 181st in the world compared with Malaysia’s 136th, offer the Harimau Malaya an opportunity to get off to a positive start.

But all eyes will inevitably turn to the Indonesia clash at the Gelora Bung Karno.

Malaysia-Indonesia encounters have always carried an edge of their own, with the noise from the stands, the pressure surrounding the fixture and the mental battle often making it about much more than tactics and football.

Yet Malaysia cannot afford to get carried away by the occasion. Every point in Group A could prove valuable, with Singapore also capable of complicating the battle for the top two positions.

Group B promises its own heavyweight contest, with Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and Pakistan set to battle it out for the other final berth.

Only the group winners will advance to the final at the Gelora Bung Karno on October 5, while the runners-up will meet for the third-place playoff at the same venue on the same day.

For Malaysia, the challenge is clear: play with courage when in possession, stay disciplined without the ball and make opponents pay when chances come their way.

The Fifa Asean Cup 2026 was introduced at the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur last year through a collaboration between Fifa and Asean, with the tournament aimed at using football to bring communities together, strengthen sporting development and create greater opportunities for the game.

For Harimau Malaya, the inaugural edition offers more than just another regional tournament.

It is a chance to restore belief among supporters and show that Malaysia intend to be more than just participants when the region’s best go head-to-head.

Last month, Malaysia reached the semi-finals of the 2026 Asean Championship before missing out on a place in the final, leaving Tan Cheng Hoe’s men with another opportunity to make their mark on the regional stage. — Bernama

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由临时主教练陈清和率领的马来西亚队将于9月25日至10月5日参加2026年国际足联东盟杯A组的比赛，对手包括印度尼西亚、孟加拉国和新加坡。

新加盟的贝尔格森·达席尔瓦、曼努埃尔·伊达尔戈和布拉德·塔普为马来西亚队增加了进攻选择，尽管他们的到来并不能保证球队能在锦标赛中走得很远。

这项在东盟峰会上推出的赛事旨在通过足球促进社区发展，为马来西亚提供一个提升球迷信心和区域竞争力的平台。

吉隆坡，9 月 23 日——2026 年 FIFA 东盟杯本周拉开帷幕，马来西亚队希望开启新的篇章，重新建立信心，证明他们仍然能够与东南亚强队一较高下。

马来西亚与东道主印度尼西亚、孟加拉国和新加坡同分在A组，参加首届甲级联赛，比赛将于9月25日至10月5日在雅加达和万隆举行。

临时主教练陈清和率领的球队将于周五在雅加达格罗拉蓬卡诺体育场迎战孟加拉国队，开启他们的征程，随后将于周一在同一场地迎战传统对手印度尼西亚队。

随后，他们将于 10 月 1 日在万隆的 Si Jalak Harupat 体育场与新加坡队进行小组赛的最后一场比赛。

马来西亚队的征程中，新入籍球员和传承球员贝尔格森·达席尔瓦、曼努埃尔·伊达尔戈和布拉德·塔普的到来，为球队增添了更多悬念，也让郑和有了更多选择和进攻手段。

伯格森经验丰富，且拥有敏锐的门前嗅觉，而塔普则有望增强中场实力和平衡性。与此同时，伊达尔戈凭借其速度和创造机会的能力，为边路进攻提供了又一选择。

他们的到来并不能保证马来西亚队能走得很远，但无疑让郑和在一周内带领球队进行三场小组赛时有了更多的手下可用。

除了赛事本身之外，这次征程还可以为一支正在备战 2030 年国际足联世界杯/2031 年亚足联亚洲杯预选赛的球队提供宝贵的基石，预选赛定于明年 3 月开始。

从纸面上看，世界排名第 181 位的孟加拉国（马来西亚排名第 136 位）为马来亚虎队提供了一个取得良好开局的机会。

但所有人的目光都将不可避免地转向印尼队在格罗拉蓬卡诺体育场的比赛。

马来西亚与印度尼西亚的比赛总是充满着独特的氛围，看台上的喧闹声、比赛带来的压力以及心理上的较量，往往让比赛的意义远不止于战术和足球本身。

然而，马来西亚不能被这场比赛的氛围冲昏头脑。A组的每一分都至关重要，新加坡也完全有能力让前两名的争夺变得更加复杂。

B组也将上演一场重量级对决，越南、泰国、菲律宾和巴基斯坦将争夺最后一个晋级名额。

只有各小组第一名才能晋级 10 月 5 日在格罗拉蓬卡诺体育场举行的决赛，而各小组第二名将在同一天于同一场地进行季军争夺战。

对于马来西亚来说，挑战很明确：控球时要勇敢，无球时要保持纪律，并在机会来临时让对手付出代价。

2026 年国际足联东盟杯是国际足联和东盟去年在吉隆坡举行的东盟峰会上合作推出的，该赛事旨在利用足球将社区团结起来，加强体育发展，并为足球运动创造更多机会。

对于马来西亚虎队来说，首届赛事不仅仅是又一场区域性锦标赛。

这是一个重振支持者信心的机会，也表明马来西亚在区域强队交锋时，不仅想成为参与者，更想成为冠军的有力争夺者。

上个月，马来西亚队在2026年东盟锦标赛中闯入半决赛，但最终未能晋级决赛，这给了陈清和率领的马来西亚队再次在区域舞台上证明自己的机会。——马新社

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