Malaysia football coach prepares squad for FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026

Malaysia's interim national team coach, Tan Cheng Hoe, is preparing the squad for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 Premier Division. Malaysia is placed in Group A alongside Indonesia, Singapore, and Bangladesh.

The squad faces significant changes due to injuries to Faris Danish Asrul, Sergio Aguero, and Romel Morales, who will miss the tournament. To fill these gaps, Tan has called up Harith Haiqal, Adam Afkar, and naturalized striker Paulo Josue.

Despite these absences, the team is bolstered by three newly approved naturalized players: Bergson da Silva, Brad Trapp, and Manuel Hidalgo. Tan noted that while the squad and challenges differ from previous competitions, the presence of top talent naturally raises fan expectations. The team is aiming for the championship, with the group winner advancing directly to the final.