KUALA LUMPUR – The Bukit Jalil National Stadium, now renamed TM National Stadium, will not host Harimau Malaya matches during the 2026 AFF Hyundai Cup as the venue undergoes major maintenance in preparation for the 2027 SEA Games.
Traditionally considered the fortress of the Malaysian national team, the stadium’s unavailability has prompted the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to propose alternative venues to the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF).
Speaking to Scoop, Datuk Noor Azman Rahman, secretary-general of FAM, confirmed that Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Paroi and the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras have been submitted as potential alternatives.
“For the group stage, our opening match against Laos will be held in Paroi, while the second fixture is set for the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium,” Noor Azman said.
“Initially, we planned both matches in Kuala Lumpur, but a scheduling conflict with the Women’s AFF Cup made this impossible. The AFF will make the final decision after assessing the venues in April.”
It was reported that Perbadanan Stadium Malaysia (PSM) is developing additional grass nurseries to improve pitch maintenance. Meanwhile, the stadium will be closed from June to September for track replacement works.
Harimau Malaya have been drawn in Group A alongside Thailand, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Laos. The tournament will run from July 24 to August 26.
Malaysia’s last AFF Cup campaign in 2024 ended in disappointment, with the national team, coached by Pau Marti Vicente, eliminated at the group stage while Thailand and Singapore advanced to the semi-finals.
The nation’s finest moment in the competition remains the 2010 triumph, when Malaysia defeated Indonesia 4-2 on aggregate in the final. – March 16, 2026