Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), has confirmed Malaysia national team will play an international friendly ‘A’ match with New Zealand national team at the North Harbor Stadium, Auckland on Monday, 14 October 2024.
This match offers a great chance for Harimau Malaya to test their skills against a higher-ranked opponent, which could be key in boosting their international standing.
The Harimau Malaya squad which is currently ranked 134th in the world previously has the opportunity to improve its FIFA ranking points when it faces the 147th ranked team in the world, the Philippines in the first match of Pestabola Merdeka 2024 at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, 4 September 2024 which takes place in the FIFA International Calendar, 2 to 10 September 2024.
The last time the Harimau Malaya squad met New Zealand was 18 years ago when the squad led by Norizan Bakar lost 1-0 in the first friendly in Christchurch on 19 February 2006 and lost 2-1 in the second friendly in Auckland on 23 February 2006.
The next FIFA Ranking update will be on September 19, 2024.
Credit Photo : Simon Yap/SNE-Photo