The Malaysia U16 National Team will take a bold developmental approach by sending a younger squad to compete in the ASEAN U17 Championship 2026, which is set to take place in East Java, Indonesia, this April.
The decision, confirmed by Ong Kim Swee, Technical Director of the National Football Development Programme (NFDP), was made in collaboration with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), including Technical Director Scott O’Donell.
According to Ong, the move to field Under-16 players (born 2010) instead of the traditional U-17 squad is part of a long-term preparation plan for the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers scheduled for November.
“This tournament serves as preparation for teams under the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), especially those heading to the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 in Saudi Arabia,” said Ong.
He noted that five nations — Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Australia — will field their full U-17 squads (born 2009) after qualifying for the continental tournament.
Malaysia, however, failed to qualify in the previous round last November, prompting a shift in strategy.
The young Malaysian squad will be led by head coach Shukor Adan, with the focus placed firmly on gaining early exposure and competitive experience.
“Although we are sending a team that is a year younger than others, I believe our players can still provide strong competition in Indonesia,” Ong added.
The ASEAN U17 Championship 2026 will run from 11 to 24 April 2026, with Malaysia drawn into a challenging Group A alongside Indonesia, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste.
Credit Photo : FAM
