Malaysia Football Association speaks frankly about AFC's new tournament

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) supports the AFC's decision to launch the Asian Nations League, seeing it as progress to boost competitiveness and football standards in the area.

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) strongly endorses the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) decision to introduce the Asian Nations League, considering it an important move to improve competitiveness and the quality of football at the national team level.

Acting FAM President, Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi, believes that AFC’s implementation of a league format similar to the UEFA Nations League will offer valuable opportunities for Asian teams to play more frequently against opponents of comparable skill, thereby enhancing playing ability and player development.

“Previously, when arranging international friendlies, many teams struggled to find suitable opponents. Some were much stronger, others weaker, resulting in low competitiveness. The Nations League will address this by grouping teams to compete against others of similar level,” Mr. Yusoff explained.

The FAM leader further emphasized that a regularly competitive environment will give players more match experience, improve their resilience, and enhance their ability to face strong teams from West or East Asia — opponents that Malaysia and other Southeast Asian teams rarely encounter.

Earlier, AFC officially announced the establishment of the Asian Nations League aiming to elevate the sporting and commercial value of national teams. Although the start date has not been set, AFC stated the competition will be held within the FIFA international match calendar.

AFC Secretary General, Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John, affirmed that the launch of this competition demonstrates AFC’s commitment to comprehensive development for its 47 member associations, providing motivation for teams to not only play friendlies but also compete earnestly for rankings and honor.

Currently, AFC holds the Asian Cup every four years, with the next edition scheduled in Saudi Arabia in January 2027. The Nations League format, successfully adopted by UEFA since 2018, has transformed international matches from mere friendlies into more engaging and meaningful contests.