Malaysia’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup were dashed after a 4-0 defeat to Vietnam in their Qualifiers final Group C match at PVF Youth Football Training Centre, Hanoi.
With the winner guaranteed a direct ticket to the continental stage, all eyes were on this high-stakes clash in front of a roaring home crowd at the PVF Stadium.
Top scorer of the 2025 Youth Cup, Arayyan Hakeem Norizam, carried the captain’s armband and responsibility for Malaysia.
However, the Young Tigers were stunned just four minutes in when Nguyen Manh Cuong capitalised to give Vietnam a dream start.
Shaken but not broken, Malaysia attempted to regroup through attacking combinations led by Arayyan, Iman Danish Mohd Shukor, and Iman Irfan Muhammad Hapis — but the equaliser remained elusive.
Instead of Malaysia clawing back, it was Vietnam who extended their advantage through Nguyen Ngoc Anh Hao, sending the home fans into a frenzy as the teams headed to halftime.
Backed by thunderous support at the PVF Stadium, Vietnam emerged from the tunnel with renewed aggression.
Just four minutes into the second half, Nguyen Huynh Dang Khoa made it 3-0, putting Malaysia in a deeper hole.
Vietnam continued to dominate possession, tempo, and territory, eventually adding a fourth through Le Sy Bach in the 76th minute — effectively sealing Malaysia’s fate.
Malaysia tried to salvage pride late in the match, but the scoreline remained 4-0 until the final whistle.
The defeat means Malaysia miss out on qualifying for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup for the seventh time in tournament history — a bitter end to a campaign that started with promise but finished with heartbreak.
Credit Photo : FAM
