Malaysia's Coach Confident to Cause an Upset at the Asian Championship

Rakphol Sainetngam, Malaysia’s futsal team coach, showed a positive outlook following the release of the group draw for the 2026 AFC Futsal Championship finals.

The Group Draw Ceremony The 2026 AFC Futsal Championship Finals has just concluded, setting the stage for a series of exciting and intense matches.

According to the draw, Malaysia's futsal team is placed in Group D alongside Iran (currently ranked 5th in the world) and two other Middle Eastern teams, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. This is considered a tough group but also an opportunity for the "Malayan Tigers" to show their strength and aim for a knockout stage berth.

Coach Rakphol believes that facing the continent’s strongest teams will provide his players with valuable experience. He said: “Malaysia has been drawn into a group with some of Asia’s top teams. Iran, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia are all strong sides and currently at a higher level than us.”

Despite acknowledging the challenge, the Thai strategist remains positive, viewing this as a chance for Malaysian futsal to continue progressing. He emphasized: “Actually, this is a good thing because we get to compete directly against the strongest teams in Asia. It’s a valuable opportunity for the growth of Malaysian futsal.”

Rakphol also expressed confidence that his team can cause surprises similar to the qualifiers, where Malaysia defied expectations to reach the finals. “This time, we aim for an even better result. I believe the whole team can create a new upset, just like what we achieved during the qualifiers.”

The 52-year-old coach affirmed that he and his players will give their all in every match, believing in their potential to leave a mark in Indonesia next January.

He added: “I fully understand how tough the challenges ahead are, but throughout my coaching career, I have often created unexpected moments. We will compete with the highest spirit in every game.”

The 2026 AFC Futsal Championship finals will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from January 27 to February 7, 2026. In this tournament, Vietnam’s futsal team is placed in Group B along with Thailand, Kuwait, and Lebanon.

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