Malaysia national football team facts for kids
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Nickname(s) | Harimau Malaya (Malayan Tigers) |
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Association | Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Confederation | AFC (Asia) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sub-confederation | AFF (Southeast Asia) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Head coach | Peter Cklamovski | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Captain | Dion Cools | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Most caps | Soh Chin Ann (195) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Top scorer | Mokhtar Dahari (89) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Home stadium | Bukit Jalil National Stadium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FIFA code | MAS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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FIFA ranking | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current | 167 ![]() |
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Highest | 75 (8 August 1993) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lowest | 178 (15 March 2018) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Elo ranking | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current | 173 ![]() |
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Highest | 1 (1 March 1977) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lowest | 1 (September 2018) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First international | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 12 October 1963) |
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Biggest win | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (Tehran, Iran; 7 September 1974) |
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Biggest defeat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; 3 September 2015) |
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AFC Asian Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances | 4 (first in 1976) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best result | Group stage (1976, 1980, 2007, 2023) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ASEAN Championship | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances | 14 (first in 1996) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best result | Champions (2010) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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The Malaysia national football team represents Malaysia in international football. The team is controlled by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). They are officially nicknamed Harimau Malaya, which means Malayan Tigers.
The team is seen by FIFA as the successor to the Malaya national football team. Before Malaysia was formed, the Malayan team won a bronze medal at the 1962 Asian Games. The team's biggest successes include qualifying for the 1972 Summer Olympics and winning the AFF Championship in 2010.
Malaysia has exciting rivalries with nearby countries like Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore. These matches are always popular with fans. The team plays its home games at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
History
The Beginning (1963–1969)

Before 1963, the regions of Malaya, North Borneo (now Sabah), Sarawak, and Singapore all had their own football teams. The Malaya team was very successful, winning a bronze medal at the 1962 Asian Games.
After Malaysia was formed on 16 September 1963, a new national team was created. At first, it included players from both Malaya and Singapore. When Singapore became its own country in 1965, the team was made up of players only from Malaysia.
The Golden Years (1970–1980)
The 1970s were a fantastic time for Malaysian football. The team qualified for the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. They even beat the United States 3–0 in the tournament!
This era had legendary players like Mokhtar Dahari, who is one of the top goal scorers in the history of international football. Another legend, Soh Chin Ann, played the most international games for any male footballer for a long time.
In 1974, the team won another bronze medal at the Asian Games. They also played in the AFC Asian Cup in 1976 and 1980. The team also qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow but did not attend due to a boycott led by the United States.
A Time of Challenges (1990–2009)
After the success of the 1970s and 80s, the team went through a difficult period. In the 1990s, Malaysian football faced problems with unfair play, which affected the team's performance. For many years, the team struggled to qualify for major tournaments.
Even with different coaches, the team could not repeat its past glory. However, they did finish third in the regional Tiger Cup (now the AFF Championship) in 2004. The team's performance during the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, which Malaysia co-hosted, was disappointing, and they did not advance from the group stage.
Kings of Southeast Asia (2010)
In 2010, under coach K. Rajagopal, a young Malaysian team did something amazing. They competed in the 2010 AFF Championship. After a rough start, they made it to the semi-finals and beat the defending champions, Vietnam.
In the final, they faced their rivals, Indonesia. Malaysia won the first match at home 3–0 in front of a huge crowd at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium. Although they lost the second match 1-2 in Jakarta, they won 4-2 overall. For the first time ever, Malaysia were the champions of Southeast Asia!
Ups and Downs (2011–2022)
After their 2010 victory, the team had mixed results. They reached the final of the 2014 AFF Championship and the 2018 AFF Championship but finished as runners-up both times. The team struggled to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup and FIFA World Cup.
There were several changes in coaches during this time. The COVID-19 pandemic also created challenges, as many key players were not available for important qualification matches for the 2022 World Cup.
A New Era (2022–Present)
In 2022, Kim Pan-gon from South Korea became the new coach and brought new energy to the team. His leadership led to a big success: Malaysia qualified for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup on merit for the first time in 42 years. This made fans very hopeful for the future.
At the 2023 Asian Cup, Malaysia was in a tough group with Jordan, Bahrain, and South Korea. Although they didn't advance, they ended the tournament with an incredible 3–3 draw against the powerful South Korean team. This match is remembered for Faisal Halim's amazing goal and a last-minute equalizer by Romel Morales.
In July 2024, Kim Pan-gon resigned for personal reasons. In December 2024, Peter Cklamovski was appointed as the new head coach, with the goal of leading the team to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
Team Image
Kits
The team's home kit is famous for its yellow and black stripes, which look like the stripes of a tiger. This design is a tribute to the kits worn by the Malayan teams in the 1920s and 1970s. The away kit is usually black or white.
Over the years, the kits have been made by famous brands like Adidas, Nike, and now Puma.
Home Stadium
Malaysia's main home stadium is the massive Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. It can hold over 87,000 people, making it one of the largest football stadiums in the world. The incredible atmosphere created by the fans here gives the team a big advantage.
When the Bukit Jalil stadium is not available, the team sometimes plays in other stadiums across Malaysia, like the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor or the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Terengganu.
Supporters
The national team is supported by a passionate fan group called Ultras Malaya. They are famous for their loud, organized cheering throughout the entire match.
They wear black and yellow, bring large flags and banners, and use drums and flares to create an amazing and intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams. Their non-stop support is a huge boost for the Harimau Malaya players.
Players
Current squad
The following players were called up for the 2027 Asian Cup qualification match against Vietnam in June 2025.
Caps and goals are correct as of 10 June 2025, after the match against Vietnam.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
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1 | GK | Haziq Nadzli | 6 January 1998 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
16 | GK | Syihan Hazmi | 22 February 1996 | 31 | 0 | ![]() |
23 | GK | Sikh Izhan | 23 March 2002 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
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2 | DF | Matthew Davies (captain) | 7 February 1995 | 58 | 0 | ![]() |
3 | DF | Facundo Garcés | 5 September 1999 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
4 | DF | Gabriel Palmero | 15 January 2002 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
5 | DF | Jon Irazabal | 28 November 1996 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
6 | DF | Harith Haiqal | 22 June 2002 | 8 | 1 | ![]() |
18 | DF | Ubaidullah Shamsul | 30 November 2003 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
21 | DF | Dion Cools (vice-captain) | 4 June 1996 | 32 | 5 | ![]() |
22 | DF | La'Vere Corbin-Ong | 22 April 1991 | 43 | 6 | ![]() |
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8 | MF | Stuart Wilkin | 12 March 1998 | 29 | 6 | ![]() |
10 | MF | Endrick | 7 March 1995 | 23 | 0 | ![]() |
13 | MF | Hector Hevel | 15 May 1996 | 2 | 1 | ![]() |
15 | MF | Nooa Laine | 22 November 2002 | 14 | 0 | ![]() |
20 | MF | Nazmi Faiz | 16 August 1994 | 19 | 1 | ![]() |
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7 | FW | Faisal Halim | 7 January 1998 | 36 | 15 | ![]() |
9 | FW | Romel Morales | 23 August 1997 | 9 | 2 | ![]() |
11 | FW | Imanol Machuca | 15 January 2000 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
12 | FW | Arif Aiman | 4 May 2002 | 35 | 7 | ![]() |
14 | FW | João Figueiredo | 27 May 1996 | 1 | 1 | ![]() |
17 | FW | Paulo Josué (third captain) | 13 March 1989 | 25 | 9 | ![]() |
19 | FW | Rodrigo Holgado | 28 June 1995 | 1 | 1 | ![]() |
Recent call-ups
The following footballers were part of national selection in the past twelve months, but are not part of the current call-up.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
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GK | Azri Ghani | 30 April 1999 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
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GK | Kalamullah Al-Hafiz | 30 July 1995 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Shahrul Saad | 8 July 1993 | 60 | 5 | ![]() |
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DF | Junior Eldstål | 16 September 1991 | 23 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Daniel Ting | 1 December 1992 | 16 | 1 | ![]() |
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DF | Dominic Tan | 12 March 1997 | 37 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Khuzaimi Piee | 11 November 1993 | 12 | 0 | ![]() |
2024 ASEAN Championship |
DF | Azam Azmi | 12 February 2001 | 13 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Syahmi Safari | 5 February 1998 | 26 | 1 | ![]() |
2023 AFC Asian Cup INJ |
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MF | Afiq Fazail | 29 September 1994 | 7 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Syamer Kutty Abba | 1 October 1997 | 42 | 2 | ![]() |
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MF | Ezequiel Agüero | 7 April 1994 | 17 | 3 | ![]() |
2024 ASEAN Championship |
MF | Brendan Gan | 3 June 1988 | 37 | 1 | ![]() |
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FW | Safawi Rasid | 5 March 1997 | 68 | 22 | ![]() |
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FW | Akhyar Rashid | 1 May 1999 | 56 | 10 | ![]() |
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FW | Syafiq Ahmad | 28 June 1995 | 43 | 11 | ![]() |
2024 ASEAN Championship |
FW | Darren Lok | 14 December 1990 | 38 | 6 | ![]() |
2024 ASEAN Championship
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Player Records
These records are for players who represented Malaysia since 1963. Players in bold are still active with the team.
Most Appearances
Rank | Player | Caps | Career |
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1 | Soh Chin Ann | 195 | 1969–1984 |
2 | Shukor Salleh | 172 | 1970–1981 |
3 | Mokhtar Dahari | 142 | 1972–1985 |
Arumugam Rengasamy | 142 | 1973–1986 | |
5 | Zainal Abidin Hassan | 129 | 1980–1997 |
Top Goalscorers

Rank | Player | Goals | Career |
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1 | Mokhtar Dahari | 89 | 1972–1985 |
2 | Zainal Abidin Hassan Ali | 50 | 1980–1997 |
3 | Isa Bakar | 45 | 1974–1981 |
4 | Shaharuddin Abdullah | 39 | 1967–1974 |
5 | Dollah Salleh | 33 | 1985–1996 |
Competitive Record
Champion Runners-up Third place
FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup | ||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
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Part of Malaya | |||||||
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Did not enter | |||||||
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Did not qualify | |||||||
Total | 0/15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
AFC Asian Cup
AFC Asian Cup | ||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
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Group stage | 5th of 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
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Group stage | 6th of 10 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Group stage | 16th of 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 12 |
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Did not qualify | |||||||
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Group stage | 21st of 24 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
Total | 4/18 | Best: 5th | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 28 |
ASEAN Championship
Honours
Continental
Regional
- ASEAN Championship
- Southeast Asian Games
Friendly Tournaments
- Merdeka Tournament (8): 1968, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1979 (shared), 1986, 1993, 2024
- King's Cup (4): 1972, 1976 (shared), 1977 (shared), 1978
See Also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Malasia para niños
- Malaysia national football team results
- Malaysia national under-23 football team
- Malaysia national under-22 football team
- Malaysia national under-19 football team
- Malaysia national under-16 football team
- Malaysia women's national football team
- Malaysia national futsal team
- Malaysia women's national futsal team
- Malaysia League XI
- Football Association of Malaysia
- List of Malaysia footballers born outside Malaysia