KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian football has suffered a crushing blow on the global stage, with the national team plunging 14 spots in the latest FIFA rankings after a series of match forfeits wiped out key results.
The drop from 121st to 135th comes in the wake of sanctions tied to both international friendlies and 2027 Asian Cup qualifying fixtures, severely denting the team’s standing.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) last week ruled that Malaysia had fielded ineligible players in two matches played last year.
The fixtures – a 2-0 win over Nepal on March 25 and a 4-0 triumph against Vietnam on June 10 – have both been overturned and officially recorded as 3-0 defeats.
Further compounding the setback, FIFA nullified the results of three international friendlies, also awarding 3-0 forfeits against Malaysia.
These included a 1-1 draw with Cape Verde on May 29, a 2-1 victory over Singapore on September 4, and a narrow 1-0 win against Palestine on September 8.
The rulings have not only erased valuable results but also led to a significant loss of ranking points, triggering Malaysia’s sharp fall in the world standings.
At the summit of the rankings, European champions Spain occupy the top spot, followed by reigning world champions Argentina in second, with France completing the top three.
In Asia, Japan continues to lead the continent at 19th overall, while Thailand remains the highest-ranked team in Southeast Asia, sitting 96th globally. – March 23, 2026