Malaysian Football Association makes unexpected decision after being grouped with Vietnam's youth team in Southeast Asian tournament

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) confirmed that their U16 players will participate in the Southeast Asian U17 Championship in Indonesia next April.

According to Ong Kim Swee, Technical Director of Malaysia's National Football Development Program (NFDP), this decision was made to help the Malaysian U16 team, led by coach Shukor Adan, prepare early for the U17 Asian qualifiers in November 2027.

He stated that this decision was reached after discussions with FAM leadership, including Technical Director Scott O'Donell.

"The 2026 Southeast Asian U17 tournament is essentially considered a preparatory or warm-up event for teams from Southeast Asian football associations who will compete in the 2026 U17 Asian Championship in May," Ong Kim Swee said.

"Five teams, including Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Australia, will send their U17 teams (born in 2009) to this tournament because they have qualified for the finals in Saudi Arabia, while Malaysia cannot participate after failing in the qualifiers last November," Ong Kim Swee continued.

"Therefore, we decided that Malaysia will only send its U16 team (born in 2010) to the 2026 Southeast Asian U17 tournament to prepare early for the Malaysian U16 team ahead of the U17 Asian qualifiers in November 2027," Ong Kim Swee added.

"Even though sending a team one year younger than the other five teams, I believe our U16 players under Shukor Adan's guidance can still create strong competition in Indonesia," Ong Kim Swee said.

The 2026 Southeast Asian U17 tournament will take place in East Java, Indonesia from April 11 to 24. Malaysia U17 is in Group A along with host Indonesia U17, Vietnam U17, and Timor-Leste U17.

Group B consists of Thailand U17, Laos U17, Myanmar U17, and Philippines U17.

Group C consists of Australia U17, Cambodia U17, Singapore U17, and Brunei U17.