Latest Malaysia National Team Roster: Controversial Naturalized Star Omitted

The Football Association of Malaysia has revealed the 29 players called up for the September FIFA Days, excluding foreign player Imanol Machuca.

Coach Peter Cklamovski has released the 29-man Malaysia national team roster in preparation for two matches during the September FIFA Days, where they will face Singapore (September 4) and Palestine (September 8).

Compared to the squad that secured a 4-0 victory over Vietnam in June, the "Malayan Tigers" have made several changes. Some naturalized players who were previously controversial regarding their origins or lacked good form, such as Imanol Machuca, Eldstål, and Matthew Davies, are all missing. Among them, Imanol Machuca was recently naturalized in June and sparked major debate about his background. Conversely, the Australian coach opted to rejuvenate the defense by calling up Richard Chin and Azam Azmi. Sergio Aguero, who was absent in June, has also been recalled.

Center-back Facundo Garces, an Argentine-born player who has been involved in controversy over his origins, remains included. Previously, Garces caused a stir by claiming in the media that his Malaysian heritage came from a "great-grandfather," which does not comply with FIFA regulations. Alongside Facundo Garces, the three players naturalized in June — Jon Irazabal, Joao Figueiredo, and Rodrigo Holgado — have also been called up again.

Other familiar names still on the list include Corbin-Ong, Daniel Ting, Dion Cools, Arif Aman, Paulo Josué, and Endrick Santos, who currently plays for Ho Chi Minh City Police FC.

After their 4-0 win over Vietnam in the 2026 Asian Cup qualifiers, Malaysian football has faced turbulent times due to controversies surrounding naturalized players. Recently, the Football Association chairman, Joehari Ayub, reportedly submitted his resignation.

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