Malaysia needs to seize the opportunity presented by the AFC to elevate its national team

The creation of the AFC Nations League is regarded as a great opportunity for Malaysia to develop and enhance the national team while giving young players more chances to gain experience.

Experts believe the Malaysian national team must prepare thoroughly and make the most of the opportunity when the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) plans to organize the AFC Nations League, a new tournament for national teams, expected to be scheduled according to FIFA’s international match calendar.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Zulakbal Abd Karim, this new competition will bring more high-quality and competitive matches to Asian football, replacing less meaningful friendly games. It also offers Malaysia a chance to elevate the national team and nurture a new generation of players.

“The AFC Nations League is a very good initiative, much more practical than friendly matches. This tournament will greatly benefit smaller teams like Malaysia. The FAM should capitalize on this to build a strong squad and expand the player pool for the future,” Mr. Zulakbal shared.

He further emphasized that participating in this tournament will help young Malaysian players gain valuable experience, adapt to the intensity of international matches, and deepen the squad for long-term goals such as World Cup qualifiers or the 2027 Asian Cup.

According to AFC, the new competition will follow FIFA’s international match calendar to ensure full participation of national teams. Although the start date is yet to be confirmed, the AFC affirms that the AFC Nations League is an important step to enhance competitiveness and commercial value in Asian football.

AFC Secretary General, Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John, stated: “The launch of the AFC Nations League demonstrates our commitment to supporting football development across all 47 member nations. This will be a platform for teams to maintain form and move closer to world-class standards.”

Currently, the AFC continues to hold the Asian Cup every four years, with the 2027 edition set to take place in Saudi Arabia. The addition of the AFC Nations League is expected to bring a fresh look to Asian football, similar to the successful UEFA Nations League model introduced in Europe in 2018.