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Score8 · Malaysia

Malaysia Football

Malaysia football covers the country's domestic league and cups, its clubs, the national team and a fan culture that follows both local and international football. This hub explains how Malaysian football is organised and connects it to Score8's fixtures, results, news and analysis.

Malaysia football Updated

Stadium illustration at dusk with palm silhouettes and a Malaysian flag above the stands

How Malaysian football is organised

BodyRole
Football Association of Malaysia (FAM)The national governing body, a member of FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). Responsible for the national teams.
Malaysian Football League (MFL)Runs Malaysia's professional club competitions.
AFC and AFFOrganise the Asian and Southeast Asian competitions in which Malaysian clubs and national teams take part.

Domestic competitions

The Malaysia Super League is the top division of Malaysian club football, established under that name in 2004, with lower divisions below it. The number of teams and the season calendar have changed over time, including adjustments to align more closely with Asian club competitions, so the current season's regulations are the authority.

CompetitionType
Malaysia Super LeagueTop-division league
Malaysia CupThe oldest and most prestigious domestic cup, first played in 1921
Malaysia FA CupKnockout cup
Piala SumbangsihSeason-opening single match

Read the Malaysian cup competitions explained

Clubs

Malaysian football has a strong regional character: for much of its history, state teams were at the heart of the game, and many clubs still carry the identity of a state or city. Clubs that finish high enough in domestic competitions can qualify for AFC club competitions.

National football

The men's national team, nicknamed Harimau Malaya (Malayan Tigers), competes in Southeast Asian, Asian and world competitions. Malaysia won the regional AFF Championship in 2010 and co-hosted the AFC Asian Cup in 2007. National team matches are often played at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.

Football culture

  • Local passion: Malaysia Cup finals and big state rivalries draw large, loud crowds.
  • European football at night: Premier League and Champions League matches kick off late in the evening or early in the morning, and watching them with friends — often at mamak restaurants — is part of fan life. See kick-off times in Malaysia Time.
  • Grassroots: football and futsal are played widely at schools and community level.

Follow Malaysia football on Score8

Sources and references

  1. Football Association of Malaysia — official site
  2. Wikipedia — Malaysia Super League
  3. Wikipedia — Malaysia national football team
  4. Wikipedia — Malaysia Cup

Read next

Malaysia football explainers