The Malaysian team trains in Thailand before arriving in Vietnam.

Malaysia is determined to surprise the Vietnamese team after being penalized by AFC with two match forfeits, losing their ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup to coach Kim Sang Sik and his squad.

According to an announcement from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), the Malaysian national team will begin training on March 23 in Kuala Lumpur, followed by a training camp in Bangkok, Thailand from March 24 to 27. As planned, the team will travel to Ninh Bình on March 28.

The training sessions in Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok are organized to prepare for the match against the Vietnamese team in Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers, scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, at Thiên Trường Stadium in Ninh Bình.

Previously, yesterday, head coach Peter Cklamovski announced a list of 28 players called up to prepare for the match against the Vietnamese team.

This list will be reduced to 23 players before the departure to Vietnam for the match.

The Malaysian team has not abandoned hope despite being deducted points in the 2027 Asian Cup campaign, as they prepare to face the Vietnamese team in the final qualifying match of Group F on March 31.

National team executive director, Rob Friend, stated that the management has acknowledged the decision of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee regarding the 6-point deduction and will review this matter from a legal perspective.

"We respect the tournament's governance processes. Meanwhile, this issue is currently being reviewed through appropriate legal channels.

Throughout this period, our priority remains clear: to support the players and coaching staff, and ensure they are in the best condition to represent Malaysia with professionalism, unity, and pride."

Malaysia was found to have used ineligible players in two matches last year, violating Article 56 of the disciplinary and ethics code.

The 2-0 win against Nepal on March 25 at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium and the 4-0 win against the Vietnamese team on June 10 at Bukit Jalil National Stadium have now been overturned to 0-3 losses according to Article 25.1.

The Football Association of Malaysia was also fined USD 50,000 (approximately RM 196,119) for this violation.

With the penalty, Malaysia currently ranks second in Group F with 9 points, while the Vietnamese team leads with 15 points. Even if they win on March 31, Malaysia will still rank behind the Vietnamese team.

Friend stated that the team will fight with the spirit they have demonstrated throughout the past year.

"We are fully focused on preparing for the upcoming match against Vietnam, where the team will play with the confidence, resilience, and discipline shown throughout 2025. We thank the fans for their continued trust in the team."