Malaysia faces heavy FIFA sanctions, giving Laos a chance to cause a ‘major upset’

Malaysia faces a crisis without 7 naturalized players, whereas Laos brings a youthful and vigorous lineup, creating a significant chance for Coach Ha Hyeok Jun’s team to pull off an upset.

The Malaysian national team is suffering a severe blow as 7 naturalized players are definitely out due to FIFA sanctions. These key players, once pillars and major contributors, will be sidelined for a year, noticeably weakening the "Malayan Tigers"’ competitive strength. The impact is not only the loss of crucial positions but also a psychological shock to the whole team, as the penalty and related scandal impose great mental pressure during this critical phase of the qualifiers.

In this situation, Coach Peter Cklamovski expressed caution when discussing the upcoming opponent: “Laos is not an easy team to beat, especially when we have to play away. The important thing for Malaysia is to stay focused, defend solidly, and capitalize on counterattack chances. Despite losing many key players, the whole team will strive to show the highest fighting spirit.” The Australian coach admitted that the absence of the naturalized player group forces Malaysia to experiment with many young faces, while the remaining core players have not yet reached top form.

On the other hand, the Laos team has announced a list of 23 strongest players preparing for two matches against Malaysia. Among them are three players currently playing abroad: Damoth Thongkhamsavath (Thanh Hóa, Vietnam), Phoutthavong Sangvilay (BC Pathum United, Thailand), and Bounphachan Bounkong (Svay Rieng, Cambodia).

Notably, Thongkhamsavath – a Vietnamese-born player born in 2004 – is a key figure for both Laos U23 and the senior national team, possessing solid technical skills and a strong competitive spirit. Under Coach Ha Hyeok Jun’s leadership, Laos is gradually showing clear progress with disciplined play and resilient fighting spirit.

With Malaysia heavily weakened both in personnel and morale, this is seen as a favorable opportunity for Laos to create an upset. Coach Ha Hyeok Jun’s squad will host Malaysia in Vientiane on October 9, before traveling to Bukit Jalil for the return leg on October 14.

Thanks to the cohesion of young players and high fighting spirit, Laos can fully aim to earn points, or even secure a victory at home against an opponent currently in crisis.