Latest news with #AsianCupQualifiers
Barnama
a day ago
- Sport
- Barnama
Vietnam Among Seven Hosts For 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers
HANOI, July 29 (Bernama-VNA) -- The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced the host countries for the 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers, with Vietnam being one of the seven hosts, along with Bhutan, China, India, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, and Myanmar, according to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF). According to Vietnam News Agency (VNA), the qualifiers are scheduled to take place from November 22-30, with the participation of 38 teams. These teams will be divided into seven groups, including three groups of six teams and four groups of five teams. The winners of each group will earn a spot in the final round.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Heritage players strengthen Harimau Malaya, says Arif Aiman
HARIMAU Malaya winger Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi dismissed any notion of rivalry between local-born and heritage players in the national squad, emphasizing unity as the team prepares for crucial friendlies in September. 'The presence of heritage players has been a big help to the team from time to time,' he said. 'Mentality is key, and every player shares the same goal under one flag.' Arif Aiman, speaking after being named ambassador for a leading sports brand, confirmed the team's full focus on the upcoming Tier 1 friendlies against Singapore and Palestine. Malaysia will face Singapore on Sept 4 and Palestine on Sept 8, matches that serve as warm-ups for the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers in October. When asked about Malaysia's withdrawal from the 2025 CAFA Nations Cup, the Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) star declined to comment, stating, 'To me, I just focus on what's ahead. Preparation is important.' - Bernama
Independent Singapore
5 days ago
- Sport
- Independent Singapore
Singapore is set and ready for AFC Under-20 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers
Photo: Freepik The Singapore Under-19 Women's National Team is now ready to compete in the AFC Under-20 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers, scheduled for August 6 to 11, 2025. The national team is in Group B, where the girls will battle against Vietnam, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Hong Kong, China, in the qualifying matches to be held in Hanoi, Vietnam. As part of their preparations, they are at a training camp in Malaysia until July 31. This experience will play an important part in the team's improvement as they intensively train together for the tournament. Several athletes have been training ahead of time, and the initial outcomes are encouraging. Head coach Fazrul Nawaz said: 'I'm really looking forward to the chemistry that naturally builds when players spend extended time together… It's not just about football – we get to build trust, challenge each other, and create a shared identity. 'I've been encouraged by the energy and focus in the early sessions. Tactically, there's a willingness to adapt and take in information quickly, which is vital at this level. But beyond that, it's the spirit – the way they push each other, the communication, the way they celebrate small wins.' The coaching team is doing its best to improve how it handles the squad. They are now concentrating not only on the strategic preparations of the players but also on developing their mindset and instilling the standards needed to compete at this level. Coach Fazrul declared: 'You can sense their hunger and a growing belief, and that's a great starting point… This group has potential, and the goal is to translate that potential into consistent performances.' 'For the girls, I want them to gain confidence, take ownership of their roles, and show that they can compete.' On social media, Seri Nurinsyirah, the defender of the Singapore team, said: 'I feel very honoured, because I got called up at a very young age (16 years old), so it's such a good experience to play at this level, and I can learn from there.' 'I feel very excited, at the same time nervous, because Asian opponents tend to be stronger, and very competitive, so it will be a good game for us,' she added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FAS (@fasingapore) Now, Fazrul aims to finish the tournament with a team that is more united, more disciplined, and more self-assured. He said: 'If we come out of it fitter, sharper, tighter as a unit, and hungry to compete, I'd consider that a success.' () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
The Sun
23-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Harimau Malaya to face Singapore, Palestine in September friendlies
HARIMAU Malaya will face Singapore and Palestine in two high-profile international friendlies this September, as confirmed by head coach Peter Cklamovski. The matches are part of Malaysia's preparations for their upcoming 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers clash against Laos in October. The Causeway Derby against Singapore (FIFA ranking 159) is scheduled for September 4, while the match against Palestine (FIFA ranking 98) will take place on September 8. Although the venues are yet to be finalised, Cklamovski hopes both games will be held at Bukit Jalil National Stadium. The Australian coach emphasised that these fixtures were strategically chosen to test the squad's development following their impressive 4-0 victory over Vietnam in June. 'Singapore's a good team. The game will have lots of emotions. It's a derby, and we look forward to it. Rankings don't matter—it's going to be a tough game,' he said. Regarding Palestine, Cklamovski noted their qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup as a key challenge. 'They're a top-100 team, so it's a great opportunity to measure our progress. We want to play our football and make Malaysians proud,' he added during a media session. Despite the recent win over Vietnam, the coach stressed the need for continuous improvement. 'It was a special night, but it's just three points. Now, we focus on getting better in September,' he said. Currently leading Group F in the Asian Cup Qualifiers with six points, Malaysia will next face Laos (FIFA ranking 185) on October 9 and 14. Vietnam trails with three points, while Laos and Nepal (FIFA ranking 176) complete the group standings. – Bernama
Malaysian Reserve
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Malaysian Reserve
Harimau Malaya withdraw from CAFA Nations Cup 2025
THE national football squad has decided to withdraw from participating in the 2025 Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup which will be held from August 29 to September 8. The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) in a statement announced that the decision was made following the change in match dates falling outside the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) international window, posing challenges in terms of logistics, player availability, and overall squad preparation. 'The last-minute change of date poses a challenge to the national squad in all aspects, as clubs are not obliged to release their players. 'This situation directly affects our efforts to form the best squad for the tournament, especially when some of our key players are playing in major leagues such as Spain, Argentina, Colombia and Japan,' FAM said in a statement today. Meanwhile, Harimau Malaya head coach Peter Cklamovski described the decision to withdraw from participating in the CAFA Nations Cup as the right one and the Harimau Malaya squad will focus fully on the training camp ahead of the important matches against Laos and Nepal in Oct and Nov. 'We have players who are playing in the world's leading leagues such as Spain, Argentina, Colombia and Japan. 'To get them to Tajikistan in such a short time and ensure they are ready to perform at the highest level is unrealistic in this window,' he said. The Harimau Malaya squad is scheduled to meet Laos for a Group F match of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Laos on Oct 9 before hosting Laos in the country on Oct 14. The national squad will then fly to Nepal for another Group stage match on Nov 18. — BERNAMA
