The Malaysian national team at the 2026 ASEAN Cup: Even weaker than when they lost to Vietnam back in March

Malaysia is set to take on Vietnam in the 2026 ASEAN Cup semifinals, yet this team has lost much of the power it showed during their encounter in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifying round in March.

Malaysia enters the 2026 ASEAN Cup with a squad missing many key players

Malaysia secured a semifinal spot as the second-placed team in Group B after beating the Philippines 1-0 in their final group match. Coach Tan Cheng Hoe's side accumulated 9 points in the group stage, a respectable record. However, a closer look at their roster reveals that Malaysia is heading into the clash with Vietnam with significant gaps in their lineup.

A number of key players are absent from the 2026 ASEAN Cup. These include goalkeeper Syihan Hazmi, defenders Dion Cools and Matthew Davies, midfielders Stuart Wilkin, Faisal Halim, Safawi Rasid, and young talent Arif Aiman.

All of these players were important cogs in Malaysia's system. Most notably, Faisal Halim and Arif Aiman are two game-changers in attack. In defense, the absence of Syihan Hazmi, Cools, and Davies also robs Malaysia of considerable experience.

The difference becomes even clearer when looking back at the Malaysia squad that lost 1-3 to Vietnam in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. Back then, the team started with Syihan Hazmi, Cools, Davies, Nooa Laine, Nazmi Faiz, Stuart Wilkin, Faisal Halim, and Paulo Josue.

Compared to that version, the current Malaysia is almost a different team. They rely more heavily on young players and backup options, while Tan Cheng Hoe is only serving as interim coach with limited preparation time.

An important reason lies in the nature of the ASEAN Cup. The tournament is not on the official FIFA calendar, so clubs are not obligated to release players. As a result, Malaysia struggles to assemble its strongest squad.

On the other hand, Vietnam is in a more stable state. Coach Kim Sang Sik's team topped Group A with 10 points from four matches, scoring 13 goals. Dinh Bac leads the team's scoring chart with 5 goals, while Xuan Son and Hoang Hen offer additional quality options up front.

More importantly, Vietnam has already experienced beating Malaysia 3-1 when the opponent had a significantly stronger squad. That victory gives them a considerable psychological advantage ahead of the rematch.

However, the ASEAN Cup semifinal is certainly not a contest that can be decided solely by squad strength. Malaysia earned 9 points in the group stage and proved they are capable of causing trouble. A moment of brilliance or an individual mistake could completely turn the game around.

But on many fronts, Vietnam holds a clear advantage: a more balanced squad, steadier form, richer international experience, and especially the psychological edge from their most recent victory.