Big win over Laos, Malaysia overtakes Indonesia

With a 3-0 victory against Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, Malaysia has moved ahead of Indonesia on the FIFA ranking list, reaching 119th position globally for now.

The Malaysian team officially climbed above Indonesia in the latest FIFA rankings following an impressive 3-0 win over Laos in the third match of Group F in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. The match took place on the evening of October 9 at the New Laos National Stadium, where Malaysia showed superior form and strong determination.

After a somewhat balanced first half, Malaysia accelerated in the second half, scoring three goals by Arif Aiman (54th minute), Dion Cools (68th), and Faisal Halim in stoppage time (90+8’). Their fast, cohesive play combined with efficient chance conversion helped the "Malayan Tigers" secure a convincing victory, reinforcing their increasingly solid position in Southeast Asia.

With this result, Malaysia gained an additional 6.77 FIFA points, raising their total from 1,148.23 to 1,155.00, moving up four spots from 123rd to 119th globally. This achievement not only significantly improved Malaysia’s ranking but also caused their regional rival Indonesia to drop one place, from 119th to 120th. Previously, Indonesia had 1,151.26 points, but their 2-3 loss to Saudi Arabia in the opening match of Group B in the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifiers cost them 6.68 points.

Initially, the defeat to Saudi Arabia did not greatly affect Indonesia’s ranking due to the close point gap between the two Southeast Asian teams. However, the turning point came when Malaysia earned all 3 points against Laos with an impressive 3-0 win. This result granted the "Malayan Tigers" a significant point boost, allowing them to overtake Indonesia and immediately change the dynamics on the FIFA ranking board.

According to the schedule, Indonesia will play against Iraq in Jeddah on the early morning of October 12 (Vietnam time). This match is considered crucial for coach Patrick Kluivert’s team. A victory would not only keep Indonesia’s hopes alive for advancing further in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers but could also earn them about 18 FIFA points, enough to regain their previous ranking and continue competing with Malaysia on the global leaderboard.