Malaysian media feels uneasy as Vietnam continues its winning streak

Following Vietnam’s win over Nepal, Malaysian media has particularly focused on Vietnam, their main rival in the competition for qualification to the 2027 Asian Cup finals.

In the match held in Vientiane, Malaysia comfortably defeated Laos 3-0. Immediately after, Vietnam’s 3-1 home win over Nepal intensified the tension in the group standings like never before.

On Malaysian sports news sites such as MakanBola and NST, many articles suggest that Vietnam remains the biggest challenge for Malaysia in the qualifiers. The local media believes that although Malaysia is undefeated after three matches and currently leads with a perfect 9 points, Vietnam’s consistent performance could make the battle for first place unpredictable.

“Vietnam’s 3-1 victory over Nepal demonstrates that they still possess the resilience of a top regional team. The upcoming match next year between Malaysia and Vietnam will be crucial in deciding the fate of Group F,”.

The 3-0 win over Laos allows Malaysia to maintain a perfect goal difference (9 goals scored, 0 conceded), however domestic opinions remain concerned about the possibility of FIFA sanctions related to seven naturalized players whose nationality paperwork is incomplete.

This issue is being addressed by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) in coordination with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA to avoid the risk of forfeiting previous matches. Some local experts warn that if FIFA confirms any violations, Malaysia could have their results annulled, completely changing the standings in Group F, with Vietnam benefiting the most.

The MakanBola site had predicted before the matches: “Malaysia is currently in a very favorable position, but the looming threat of sanctions over naturalization issues could collapse everything with just one FIFA decision. In this context, Vietnam is the closest contender ready to overtake if Malaysia loses points.”

While Malaysia confronts legal risks, the Vietnam team under coach Kim Sang Sik is showing stability. The 3-1 win over Nepal gives Vietnam 6 points after three matches, maintaining a +3 goal difference and trailing Malaysia by only 3 points.

Malaysian media also praised the Vietnamese players’ form, especially their effective attacking organization and disciplined defense. Some commentators on social network X believe that if Malaysia is deducted points, Vietnam could easily top Group F and become the first team to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup.

“The Vietnam team appears to be waiting for Malaysia to slip up. If sanctions occur, Vietnam will not only surpass them but also gain a significant psychological and goal difference advantage,” a comment on Seasia Goalemphasized.