Malaysian media reacts to avoiding Vietnam in the 2026 AFF Cup

Malaysian media suggests that avoiding a match against Vietnam in the group stage of the 2026 ASEAN Cup helps Malaysia ease pressure and provides an opportunity to bounce back from their last loss.

Malaysian media expressed mixed feelings following the group draw ceremony for the 2026 AFF Cup, with the most notable point being that Harimau Malaya will not face the Vietnam national team right from the group stage. According to MakanBola, this is seen as a “more comfortable” scenario for Malaysia in their quest to regain status in the regional competition.

The draw results in Jakarta (Indonesia) placed Malaysia in Group B alongside Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and the Philippines. Meanwhile, the defending champion Vietnam was drawn into a different group, eliminating the chance of an early encounter that had previously caused Malaysia many difficulties in recent tournaments.

MakanBola commented that avoiding Vietnam, the current champion, significantly reduces Malaysia’s psychological pressure in the group stage. The Malaysian media acknowledges Thailand as the biggest challenge, but overall, Malaysia’s group is considered “open,” providing favorable conditions to aim for advancing beyond the group stage.

Malaysia’s leading sports news outlet also emphasized that the 2026 ASEAN Cup holds special significance for coach Peter Cklamovski’s squad. It is regarded as a chance for Malaysia to “redeem” themselves after their failure in the 2024 edition, where they were eliminated in the group stage with a modest record: one win, two draws, and one loss.

The 2024 campaign also marked the end of coach Pau Marti Vicente’s era, before the Football Association of Malaysia appointed Cklamovski at the beginning of 2025. Therefore, the 2026 AFF Cup is expected to represent a new chapter, both in playing style and competitive spirit for the Malaysian team.

MakanBola concluded that although Malaysia avoids facing Vietnam in the group stage, they are aware that the path to progress remains challenging. However, with a more favorable schedule and determination to start fresh, Malaysia is expected to avoid repeating past disappointments and at least secure a spot in the knockout rounds.