KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia must first address deep-rooted weaknesses in its football ecosystem before seriously considering a bid to host the FIFA World Cup, with senior sports analyst Sadek Mustaffa saying the country remains at least 25 years away from becoming a realistic contender.
Speaking to Scoop, Sadek said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s vision of Malaysia eventually staging football’s biggest tournament was achievable in principle, but cautioned that the country’s current football infrastructure and development system remain well below the standards required of a World Cup host.
His comments followed Zahid’s remarks during a public viewing event for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in Bangi, where he said Malaysia should aspire to host the tournament in the future.
Zahid also expressed hope that Harimau Malaya would one day qualify for the World Cup as one of Southeast Asia’s representatives.
“Zahid’s aspiration for Malaysia to one day host the FIFA World Cup is certainly not impossible, but it is only realistic over the next 25 years. At present, our football development structure and overall ecosystem are still far too weak and, quite frankly, below the standard expected of a country with such ambitions,” Sadek said.
The Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) senior sports science lecturer said Malaysia’s immediate focus should be on developing a comprehensive national football blueprint, beginning at grassroots level and extending through academies, state competitions and professional leagues.
He estimated that sustained investment of at least RM250 million annually would be required to establish a football ecosystem capable of producing elite players and supporting long-term growth.
“The immediate priority should not be bidding to host the World Cup, but building a comprehensive national football ecosystem. This must begin at school level and continue through academies, state competitions and the professional leagues, with a clear pathway for talented players to progress to the national team.
“Such a long-term plan also requires consistent investment of at least RM250 million annually to ensure sustainable development,” he said.
Sadek said Malaysia could realistically aim to qualify for the FIFA World Cup within the next 15 years, provided the country adopts a broader development approach instead of concentrating only on the senior national team.
He said strengthening youth teams and ensuring regular participation in competitions organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the Olympic Games and other international tournaments should be central to Malaysia’s football strategy.
“If we get those fundamentals right, Malaysia can realistically target qualification for the FIFA World Cup within the next 15 years.
“However, qualifying for the World Cup should not be viewed in isolation. We must also strengthen our national teams across every age group so they are consistently competing and qualifying for AFC competitions, the Olympic Games and other major international tournaments. That is the football development model promoted by FIFA and adopted by successful football nations,” he said.
Beyond nurturing players, Sadek said Malaysia must also resolve persistent structural challenges involving infrastructure, governance and the financial stability of the football industry.
He noted that hosting a World Cup requires more than building stadiums, as a host nation must also provide world-class transport systems, accommodation, security, medical facilities, training centres and a professional football administration capable of meeting FIFA’s requirements.
“Our domestic football must also be put in order. There should no longer be issues of clubs failing to pay players’ salaries, while the Malaysia Super League must become genuinely competitive rather than being dominated by a single club.
“A healthy and competitive domestic league is essential if we want to produce quality players and a stronger national team,” he said.
Sadek added that Malaysia must first establish itself as one of ASEAN’s top football nations and become consistently competitive at the Asian level before seriously discussing a World Cup hosting bid.
“Within the next five years, Malaysia should first establish itself as one of the leading football nations in ASEAN and become increasingly competitive at the Asian level.
“Once we have built a strong football ecosystem, consistently qualified for major international tournaments and developed a financially sustainable football industry, then it would be appropriate to seriously discuss Malaysia’s ambition of hosting the FIFA World Cup. Until then, our focus must remain on strengthening the foundations of Malaysian football,” he said.
Malaysia has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup since independence, with its only appearance at a FIFA tournament coming as hosts of the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship.
While FIFA has increasingly embraced co-hosting arrangements — including the 2026 edition involving the United States, Canada and Mexico — any future Malaysian bid would require significant progress both on and off the pitch. – July 22, 2026