Latest news with #WorldCup-bound
New Straits Times
04-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Cklamovski: Iran clash a benchmark for Harimau Malaya
KUALA LUMPUR: Harimau Malaya coach Peter Cklamovski is relishing the chance to pit his side against World Cup-bound Iran at the CAFA Nations Cup. He views the showdown as a true benchmark for Malaysia's progress. World No. 131 Malaysia have been drawn in a tough Group B with Iran (world No. 18), hosts Tajikistan (104) and Afghanistan (160). The tournament runs from Aug 29 to Sept 8 and Group B matches will be played in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. "It's a massive challenge for us, a massive opportunity," said Cklamovski, who will take charge of his first challenge outside Malaysian soil. "They're going to a World Cup. We'll use it to benchmark ourselves against the best, test our football against them, and take our football to them as hard as we can." Cklamovski has enjoyed a strong start to his reign, overseeing two impressive home wins in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers - a 2-0 win over Nepal in Johor and a 4-0 thumping of Vietnam in Bukit Jalil. But the real test begins away from home. Malaysia open their campaign against hosts Tajikistan on Aug 29 in what the Australian coach expects to be a fiery encounter. "It'll be a hostile environment. I'm sure the atmosphere will be electric and a really good test for us," he said. The showdown with tournament favourites and defending champions Iran comes next on Sept 1, followed by Afghanistan on Sept 4. Only the top team in each group qualifies for the final in Tashkent on Sept 8, with the second-placed sides meeting in a third-place playoff in Dushanbe the same day. Group A, played in Tashkent, features hosts Uzbekistan (world No. 57), Oman (77), Kyrgyzstan (103), and Turkmenistan (142). Cklamovski believes the CAFA Nations Cup provides ideal preparation for Malaysia's next Asian Cup qualifying challenge - a crucial away-and-home double header against Laos in October. "We're in a challenging CAFA group , and that's exactly what we want," he said. "We want to test ourselves against well-respected opponents. That's how we grow, evolve, and keep pushing towards the team we dream to be." With quick turnarounds and matches on foreign soil, the tournament offers the kind of high-pressure conditions Harimau Malaya must master if they are to take the next step. "We want to go into the group stage with the belief we can do something special," he added.
New Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Harimau Malaya drawn with Iran, Tajikistan in CAFA Cup debut
KUALA LUMPUR: Harimau Malaya will face a tough challenge in their CAFA Nations Cup debut after being drawn in Group B with hosts Tajikistan, defending champions Iran and Afghanistan. The 2025 edition of the Central Asian Football Association's (CAFA) flagship tournament will run from Aug 29-Sept 8, with Group B matches to be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. World No. 18 Iran are the highest-ranked team in the group, followed by Tajikistan (104), Malaysia (131) and Afghanistan (160). Malaysia open their campaign against Tajikistan on Aug 29, before taking on Iran (Sept 1) and Afghanistan (Sept 4). For the record, Malaysia have not played World Cup-bound Iran since their 2-0 defeat to the Middle East side at the 2007 Asian Cup in Kuala Lumpur. Group A, based in Tashkent, features hosts Uzbekistan (57), Oman (77), Kyrgyzstan (103) and Turkmenistan (142). The group winners will advance to the final in Tashkent on Sept 8, while the runners-up will play for third place on the same day in Dushanbe. Malaysia's first appearance at the CAFA Nations Cup comes at a time when the team are starting to show promise under new coach Peter Cklamovski. The Australian has overseen back-to-back over Nepal (2-0) and Vietnam (4-0) in the Asian Cup qualifiers and will use the tournament as preparation for upcoming qualifying matches against Laos — away on Oct 9 and at home on Oct 14. "Our debut in the CAFA Nations Cup marks another important chapter for Harimau Malaya on the international stage. With the right preparation, unity, and belief, the squad will rise to the challenge and make the country proud," said the national team in a statement on Instagram.
The Star
23-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Peter and Zainal expect new version of Harimau Malaya after battle with Asia's big boys
PETALING JAYA: Harimau Malaya are ready to roar louder on the Asian stage. Malaysia will test their mettle against some of the continent's football heavyweights when they compete in the Central Asia Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup in September – a prestigious tournament featuring eight teams from the region, including 2026 World Cup-bound Iran and Uzbekistan. Apart from Iran (world No. 18) and Uzbekistan (No. 57), the tournament features Oman (No. 77), Kyrgyzstan (No. 103), Tajikistan (No. 104), and Afghanistan (No. 160). Led by head coach Peter Cklamovski, Malaysia, ranked 131st in the world, will go head-to-head with five teams ranked ahead of them, which will be a perfect test for the new-look Malaysia team, heavily depended on the mixed heritage players. The tournament draw has yet to be made, but it's clear that the road ahead will be steep, and much tougher than Malaysia's recent 4-0 rout of Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Despite concerns that Harimau Malaya might be outmatched, Cklamovski is embracing the challenge. For him, this tournament is not just about results, it's about evolution. 'We're proud to be participating in the CAFA tournament,' said the Australian coach. 'We'll face tough challenges in difficult environments, but these experiences will test us in ways that are crucial for the growth of this team, both on and off the field.' He sees the tournament as another crucial step in Malaysia's footballing journey, one that will sharpen the squad ahead of bigger tests and, perhaps, bring the nation closer to realising its footballing ambitions. 'This is another opportunity for Harimau Malaya to make the nation proud, excite the fans, and continue building the unity that Malaysian football represents,' he added. National icon and Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) executive committee member, Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan, welcomed the announcement with enthusiasm, calling it a landmark moment for Malaysian football. 'I'm absolutely thrilled. It's clear that Malaysian football is starting to gain serious attention on the international stage,' he said. 'In my view, this is the most prestigious tournament we've been part of in recent years. Our players will be tested in high-quality matches, and I believe they have the talent and hunger to rise to the occasion.' 'We will gain so much from this experience, tactically, mentally, and physically. Facing top-ranked nations will only accelerate our growth. I truly believe that after this tournament, we'll see a new, improved version of Harimau Malaya. That's exactly the kind of progress we want.' Under Cklamovski, Malaysia have seen steady improvement, bolstered by a high-performance environment and the addition of quality mixed heritage players who have raised the team's technical ceiling. In defence, Facundo Garces, who plies his trade in Spain's La Liga with Alaves, has brought aggression and composure. Hector Hevel adds calm control in midfield, while Joao Figueiredo provides endless energy and movement in the final third. Up front, Rodrigo Holgado brings a killer instinct in the box, and local sensation Arif Aiman Hanapi continues to dazzle with his pace and trickery on the wings. With this blend of international flair and homegrown brilliance, Malaysia have the tools to push some of Asia's best. More importantly, participation in the Nations Cup offers a platform to raise the national team's profile and the value of its players. The tournament will also serve as ideal preparation before Malaysia resume their 2027 Asian Cup third-round qualifiers against Laos in October. For Harimau Malaya, this isn't just a test, it's a chance to prove they belong on a bigger stage.
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First Post
19-06-2025
- Sport
- First Post
Cristiano Ronaldo is not part of the action at the FIFA Club World Cup; here's why
FIFA would have hoped to have both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in action at the 32-team Club World Cup in the US. However, while Messi's Inter Miami is playing through the host nation's slot, Ronaldo's is absent from the tournament. Here's why. read more Cristiano Ronaldon has expressed frustration with Al-Nassr's lack of trophies since he signed with the Saudi club in December 2022, and has demanded wholesale changes to the club for him to extend his contract that expires on 30 June. Reuters FIFA president Gianni Infantino was hopeful of having a Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi showdown in the that currently is underway in the United States. The tournament, after all, has expanded from a seven-team face-off between continental champions to a 32-team football carnival, and having two of the biggest superstars in the modern era of the sport would have only boosted its popularity and ticket sales. However, while Messi's team Inter Miami qualified for the tournament through the host nation's slot, Ronaldo's Al Nassr failed to make the cut, with Al Hilal being the only Saudi Pro League team to make the cut. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Also Read | CR7 could still have faced off against his old rival had he joined one of the clubs playing in the tournament in the short transfer window that had specially been created between the end of the 2024-25 season and the tournament. More from Football FIFA chief Infantino even made a public appeal for the clubs taking part in the tournament to sign Ronaldo for the tournament. 'If any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup…,' the Swiss administrator said in an interview with popular YouTuber iShowSpeed. Why Ronaldo is not playing at the Club World Cup The fact that was also set to expire in the ongoing season further fuelled speculations of a transfer to one of the World Cup-bound clubs. Despite Ronaldo's participation in the Club World Cup also being in the interest of Saudi Arabia, with the Real Madrid star having been the face of the Gulf Kingdom's football ambitions, a possible move to Al Hilal ultimately fell through despite the fact that it is financed by Saudi's sovereign wealth fund, the same as Al Nassr. Al Hilal's chief executive claimed Ronaldo's last-minute signing from their cross-town rivals would have been 'counter-intuitive' regardless of the 40-year-old's stature as a player. 'As much as I respect Ronaldo as a huge player, as we all recognize he is, it's certainly completely counter-intuitive that you bring the biggest player of your biggest opponent to play with you. Even more when it's only for three to four weeks,' Al Hilal chief executive Esteve Calzada told the BBC. The statement certainly comes as a surprise given Saudi's push for signing some of the biggest names in the sport from top European clubs, including Neymar, Sadio Mane, Karim Benzema, Joao Cancelo etc. besides Ronaldo. And while Saudi Arabia has won the hosting rights for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, it has also made major investments in the Club World Cup, including in broadcaster DAZN as well as the prize money of $1 billion that will be distributed to the participating teams. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Al-Hilal, however, chose to focus their attention on signing high-profile coach Simone Inzaghi, who had recently parted ways with Champions League runners-up Inter Milan, ahead of the Club World Cup instead of going ahead with the Ronaldo signing. The move thus highlights the fact that they intended to stick to their tried-and-tested squad while trying out new tactics through their new manager.
Kyodo News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Football: Japan need striker to develop for World Cup success: boss
KYODO NEWS - 6 hours ago - 22:07 | Sports, All FIFA World Cup-bound Japan need someone to step up as an out-and-out striker, their manager Hajime Moriyasu said Wednesday. Wednesday marked one year until the start of the World Cup, to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Japan scored 30 goals in 10 matches in the final round of Asian qualifying, but no one player dominated the scoring. "I want a real striker to emerge, and then we want to make the most of that player," Moriyasu said in Kyoto. The manager also hinted at trying a back-four formation again and said, "We also need a quality side back who can be a driving force on the team." The world No. 15 Samurai Blue, who will make their eighth successive World Cup appearance, topped Group C of the Asian qualifiers with seven wins, two draws and one defeat. Related coverage: Football: Kamada, Kubo spur Japan to big win over Indonesia Football: Makeshift Japan fall late to Australia for 1st q'fiers loss Football: Nadeshiko Japan suffer back-to-back defeats against Brazil
