Malaysia women’s national football team head coach Joel Cornelli has expressed confidence that artificial turf will not disrupt his squad’s rhythm ahead of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers.
Malaysia is drawn into Group H alongside Palestine, host nation Tajikistan, and Asian powerhouse North Korea, with all matches set to take place at Central Stadium in Dushanbe, which features an artificial surface.
While Cornelli admits artificial turf is not his preferred playing surface, he remains optimistic that it won’t hinder the Malayan Tigress as they gear up for a crucial campaign.
“You have to adapt when playing in a tournament like this. Yes, the surface is artificial, but we’ve worked to adjust,” Cornelli said during the pre-match press conference.
“We trained on artificial turf back in Kuala Lumpur before departing for the UAE and now Tajikistan. Like in other sports, the turf affects the speed and bounce of the ball. But it’s something we can adapt to, and our players have shown they’re growing more comfortable with it.”
The Malayan Tigress enter the qualifiers on a high note, having secured two warm-up victories over the UAE women’s national team during their recent training stint in Dubai.
Malaysia will kick off their Group H campaign against Palestine on June 29, with the goal of securing a spot in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 in Australia.
Cornelli and his squad remain focused, believing preparation and adaptability will be key to overcoming their opponents and the unfamiliar surface.
Credit Photo : FAM
