Malaysia faces a heavy penalty, giving the Vietnamese national team a golden opportunity.

Southeast Asian football was recently shaken by news that Malaysia fielded seven naturalized players with forged documents during their 4-0 victory over Vietnam in June at Bukit Jalil, in the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. FIFA has announced disciplinary measures, yet signs indicate that Malaysia’s punishment may be even harsher. This situation presents a chance for the Vietnamese team to reignite their hope of qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup finals.

According to FIFA’s announcement, each player involved in document fraud is fined 2,000 Swiss francs and suspended for 12 months, while the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) faces a fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (over 11.6 billion VND).