Rakpol Sainetngam, head coach of Malaysia National futsal team has admitted that Malaysia faces a difficult challenge in their quest to qualify for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026, following a tough group draw in the qualifiers.
Malaysia has been placed in Group G, alongside Asian futsal giants Iran, currently ranked fifth in the world, as well as United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bangladesh.
All Group G matches will be hosted at the SUKPA Indoor Stadium in Kuantan, Pahang, from September 20 to 24.
While acknowledging the formidable opposition, Rakhpol remains optimistic that with proper preparation, Malaysia can rise to the occasion and perform at their best.
“It’s definitely not going to be an easy journey, especially since we’ve been grouped with Iran, the number one futsal team in Asia, and UAE, a team that has shown significant progress in recent years,” said Rakhpol.
“Although we haven’t seen much of Bangladesh on the Asian futsal stage, we cannot afford to underestimate them.”
The Thai-born coach emphasized that the focus must be on Malaysia’s own preparations, highlighting the need for intensive training, strategic planning, and strong team management in the lead-up to the qualifiers.
“The most important factor is our own team. We must be fully prepared in all aspects — training, squad management, and tactical execution — before the tournament begins.”
Malaysia is aiming to return to the AFC Futsal Asian Cup for the first time since 2018, and a successful qualification campaign would mark a significant milestone in the nation’s futsal development under Rakhpol’s guidance.
Credit Photo : FAM
