Malaysia Eliminated from 2027 Asian Cup Over Ineligible Players

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has eliminated Malaysia from contention for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup by forfeiting two of its qualifying victories to 3-0 defeats after determining that the national team fielded ineligible players. The ruling, announced on March 17, 2026, involved Malaysia's 2-0 win over Nepal in March 2025 and its 4-0 victory against Vietnam in June 2025, both during the final round of qualifiers in Group F. As a result, Vietnam secured promotion to the tournament with a six-point lead, while Malaysia can no longer advance despite one remaining match scheduled for March 31.

The AFC's Disciplinary and Ethics Committee, chaired by Jahangir Baglari, found that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) breached Article 56 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code by using players who lacked proper eligibility. In addition to the forfeits, FAM faces a US$50,000 fine, payable within 30 days. "The defendants fielded ineligible players in matches related to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifier final," the AFC stated in its decision, which applies Article 25.1 of the code to declare the losses.

This sanction stems from a broader FIFA investigation into Malaysia's...