Taha Ariffin Stadium prepares for Kuching City FC international matches

Taha Ariffin Stadium is preparing to host Kuching City FC (KCFC) for upcoming international competitions, including the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup and the AFC Champions League Two. The venue has received conditional approval from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) following an inspection on September 23.

KCFC Executive Chairman Dato Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman stated that while several upgrades are complete—such as refurbished dressing rooms, referee rooms, and the installation of numbered seating for 17,584 spectators—two major tasks remain: the installation of stadium lighting and the preparation of a broadcast room. The lighting installation is reportedly 90 per cent complete and expected to be ready by October 7.

To manage the increased security demands of hosting international teams from South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Cambodia, the club is increasing its number of marshals and security personnel. KCFC staff have also been sent to observe high-profile matches in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Darul Ta’zim to learn advanced crowd management and security protocols. The stadium improvements are supported by a RM7 million allocation involving the Sarawak Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development and the Sarawak Sports Corporation.