The match between Malaysia and Vietnam will take place at 8:00 p.m. on June 10 at Bukit Jalil Stadium (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia). This is considered a key match in Group F, directly affecting the chances of both teams winning tickets to the 2027 Asian Cup.
After the first match, Vietnam temporarily leads the group thanks to a big 5-0 victory over Laos, while Malaysia is ranked 2nd after defeating Nepal with a score of 2-0.
Over the past 20 years, Malaysia has only won against Vietnam twice, drawn twice and lost 12 matches. Malaysia's most recent victory over the Vietnamese team was in 2014, in the AFF Cup semi-final. At that time, the Malaysian team beat the Vietnamese team with a score of 4-2.
Speaking before the important match, coach Peter Cklamovski emphasized Malaysia's determination. He said: "We fully respect Vietnam. But we will do everything to end more than a decade without defeating them."
Malaysia is preparing carefully for the match on June 10. The team has gathered since May 19 and just had a 1-1 friendly match with Cape Verde - the team ranked 72nd in the world and competing for a place in the 2026 World Cup. Data collected from this match shows the clear progress of Malaysian players in terms of physical strength and performance.
The data shows the best improvement in the teams history. It proves we are on the right track. Cape Verde is a world-class team, fighting for a place in the World Cup. It's a big challenge and I want to see how far my players can go in terms of pace and fitness," the Australian coach added.
In terms of force, Malaysia currently has 30 players on the list to prepare for the match, except for captain Dion Cools. The Malaysian squad has also been strengthened with mixed players, including left-back Gabriel Palmero and midfielder Hector Hevel. The other three mixers are expected to soon join the team in the coming days.
We are building a special team for Malaysian football. Those who play are not as important as their passion and determination to make the country famous, coach Peter Cklamovski emphasized.
Malaysia will continue to test its forces with a closed friendly match with Cape Verde tonight (September 3), while the Vietnam team is scheduled to have a practice match with U22 on June 4 before leaving for Kuala Lumpur.
