Bitter Malaysian press: 'Vietnam advances directly to ASIAD while we miss out'

Malaysian media sees the updated ASIAD 2026 rules as the reason for their missed opportunity, whereas competitors in the region such as Vietnam and Thailand remain eligible.

Failing to participate in ASIAD 2026 is a major shock for Malaysian football. The local media admits the national U23 team lacks the capability to compete at the continental level, especially as regional rivals continue to advance.

According to New Straits Times analysis, the new Asian Games 2026 regulations in Aichi-Nagoya have left Malaysia "on the sidelines." Specifically, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), and host Japan agreed to allocate only 16 slots in the men's football event to teams that qualify through the 2026 AFC U23 Championship in Saudi Arabia.

Malaysian media emphasizes the harsh reality: “This decision means Malaysia will miss ASIAD - but Thailand and Vietnam will still secure participation.” Both Vietnam and Thailand have qualified for the AFC U23 Championship final, thereby automatically securing their places at ASIAD 2026.

Sports expert Zulakbal Abdul Karim believes the new criteria reflect an inevitable trend: “The host wants to ensure the tournament's quality; they clearly aim for top talents to compete and expect a high return on investment for the Games.” He stressed: “The 16 strongest teams from the AFC U23 Championship will guarantee professional standards and gather elite talents,” while also warning: “Olympic football also features only 16 teams, so this could become a permanent trend in the future.”

Beyond the regulations, New Straits Times also highlights internal issues in Malaysian football. The cancellation of the U23 MFL Cup due to clubs' financial difficulties is seen as a step backward. The consequence is “we once had a nationwide U23 competition but it was canceled, leaving players in this age group without a platform for continued development,” and in reality “most struggle to get playing time in the first teams.”

The Malaysian newspaper also warns of the risk of losing more opportunities for young players if the trend of allocating slots based on AFC U23 Championship results continues: “It seems we will lose another platform for players. From now on, it is necessary to recognize that quality at the U23 level is a mandatory requirement.”