Malaysia stays on course with World Cup ambition despite FIFA sanctions

In a written response to parliament on Nov. 10, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said the government is sticking to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM)'s long-term plan called F:30.

According to the minister, the 12-year roadmap is divided into three strategic phases. The first phase, from 2019 to 2022, focused on establishing a solid foundation in governance, competitions, human capital development, and infrastructure.

The second phase, spanning 2023 to 2026, aims for the team to compete effectively at the Asian level, while the final phase, from 2027 to 2030, targets the creation of "a truly world-class national team."

After the F:30 project, the long-term goal is to turn Malaysia into a nation that regularly qualifies for the World Cup within the following 6 to 10 years, Yeoh added, as quoted by Scoop.

"Efforts will focus on setting clear World Cup participation targets and cultivating successive generations of players. We will strengthen financial and organizational stability, enhance Malaysia’s international influence, improve FIFA rankings, and implement continuous research and innovation."

Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh. Photo by Instagram/@hannahyeoh

For the medium-term plan in the next five years, Yeoh said the focus is on increasing competitiveness in Asia and establishing a sustainable player development system through academies and talent scouting. The ministry also wants the domestic league to be more competitive and structured, promoting professionalism in the sport, all while developing infrastructure and expanding international cooperation.

The short-term plan for the next one to two years prioritizes building a solid foundation and immediately improving competitiveness through tactical innovation and intensive training for the national team.

In fact, changes have already appeared under coach Peter Cklamovski, such as improving player fitness, using support technology and implementing a more effective player management and financial system.

One of the policies aimed at immediate improvement was the recruitment of foreign players with Malaysian blood, with seven joining the national team since the beginning of 2025. The effect was clearly seen when they helped Malaysia defeat Vietnam 4-0 in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers in June.

However, FAM's plan is now being interrupted by FIFA, as it was accused of falsifying the records of those seven players, which resulted in a 12-month ban for each. After both the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and the FIFA Appeal Committee rejected their appeals, FAM will take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in hopes of escaping heavier penalties.

Malaysia players wave at fans after the 4-0 win against Vietnam at the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers on June 10, 2025. Photo by Instagram/@malaysia_nt

If they lose at CAS, Malaysia will likely have their points deducted, lose their qualification to the 2027 Asian Cup and potentially face a long-term international ban, which would lead to the failure of the F:30 roadmap.

Former FAM CEO Datuk Christopher Raj warned that Malaysia could be banned from playing official international matches for four years, leaving the national team to only be able to play friendlies.

Their opponents would likely be limited to lower-ranked sides such as Nepal, Bhutan, or Sri Lanka, while top 100 FIFA-ranked teams would have little incentive to play a team "potentially ranked as low as 145th," he told Scoop. "Staying active internationally is crucial not just for our ranking, but for the development of our players and the credibility of Malaysian football as a whole."

Malaysia now stand 118th on FIFA ranking and 21st in Asia. In the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, they are leading Group F with 12 points, three ahead of second-place Vietnam. The two teams are scheduled to clash again in March 2026.