KUALA LUMPUR – The opening Group D match in the second round of the 2026 World Cup/2027 Asian Cup qualifiers between Harimau Malaya and Kyrgyzstan will still take place at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Nov 16.
Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman said the decision was made after an inspection and assessment of the current pitch condition at the stadium that was joined by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, FAM president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin, Malaysian Stadium Corporation (PSM) (PSM) chairman Datuk Hans Isaac and Harimau Malaya head coach Kim Pan Gon on Thursday.
“The PSM, through the views and advice of its technical consultants and contractors, confirmed that the pitch is now in better condition than during the Merdeka Tournament last month,” he said in a FAM statement today.
He added that the decision to continue playing at the stadium took into account other factors, especially to facilitate the Harimau Malaya supporters.
“With this latest confirmation, all preparations ahead of the match will continue to be intensified to stay on track,” he said.
Although the new grass at the National Stadium was seen to be not fully ready and received criticism for its poor quality during the 2023 Merdeka Tournament from Oct 13-17, Pan Gon said in a statement yesterday that he wants the match to take place at the National Stadium so that it will remain the stronghold of the national squad.
The Merdeka Tournament was the first tournament to be held at the National Stadium after it was closed in March to replace the pitch with the Zeon Zoysia grass.
After the clash with Kyrgyzstan, the national team will fly to Taipei for their second Group D match against Taiwan on Nov 21.
Next year, world number 137 Malaysia are scheduled to meet world number 72 Oman away on March 21 and at home on March 26, before taking on Kyrgyzstan (away leg) in Bishkek on June 6 and playing Taiwan on June 11 in Malaysia.
The top two teams in the group will qualify for the third round of World Cup qualifiers and qualify for the Asian Cup, while the third- and fourth-placed teams will play in the third round of Asian Cup qualifiers.
The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States with a new format of 48 teams, compared to the previous 32 teams.
Three-time champions Saudi Arabia will host the Asian Cup for the first time in 2027. – Bernama
