PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will be without their iconic home ground for this year’s AFF Hyundai Cup after the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil was scheduled to close for major upgrades ahead of the 2027 SEA Games.
The stadium will be shut from June to Sept 2026 to allow for comprehensive replacement works on its athletics track, forcing the national team, Harimau Malaya, to stage their home matches at alternative venues during the regional tournament.
Malaysia will start their Group B campaign against Myanmar on July 25, followed by matches against Laos on July 28 and Thailand on Aug 1.
Their final group-stage fixture will be against the Philippines on Aug 8.
Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman said contingency plans are already in place, with venues identified for Malaysia’s group-stage fixtures.
"Against Laos, we will play at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi, and against the Philippines, the match will be held at the Cheras Football Stadium," said Azman.
"As for the semi-finals, we cannot confirm the venue yet. Our focus for now is on the group stage."
Harimau Malaya have been drawn in Group B alongside seven-time champions Thailand, the Philippines, Myanmar and Laos.
The competition format will see teams play two home and two away matches in a round-robin format during the group stage, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.
Malaysia’s only AFF Cup triumph came in 2010. The national side have also finished runners-up three times, in 1996, 2014 and 2018.
