Hanoi, 9 August 2026 – Malaysia interim head coach Tan Cheng Hoe has acknowledged that Vietnam will enter their highly anticipated ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinal as the stronger side, but insists the Harimau Malaya have nothing to lose when they face the defending champions.
Following the conclusion of the group stage, Vietnam and Malaysia are set to renew their long-standing Southeast Asian rivalry in the last four. The tie marks Malaysia’s first appearance in the ASEAN Championship semifinals since 2018, when they went all the way to the final before being beaten by Vietnam.
There is an added sense of familiarity surrounding this year’s encounter. Tan Cheng Hoe was also the man in charge of Malaysia during that 2018 campaign, guiding the Harimau Malaya to the final before losing to Park Hang-seo’s Vietnam over two legs.
Eight years later, Tan is preparing for another knockout battle against the Golden Star Warriors. This time, however, he accepts that Kim Sang-sik’s Vietnam will begin the semifinal as favorites to advance and potentially retain their regional crown.
“Vietnam are among the leading contenders to win the tournament, while we are considered the underdogs. But our players have nothing to lose. We are going to face Vietnam, and we need to enjoy this moment. Hopefully, we will have a full stadium behind us.”
Despite acknowledging the challenge ahead, Tan remains encouraged by the atmosphere within his squad. He believes Malaysia’s players have developed a strong understanding of the coaching staff’s tactical approach, although there are still areas that need to be improved before the semifinal.
“The spirit within the team and the relationship between the players are very good, although there are still some areas we need to improve. The players now understand the tactical approach that the coaching staff wants.”
Malaysia’s return to the semifinals represents an important step forward after several disappointing ASEAN Championship campaigns. However, they now face arguably their toughest test of the tournament against a Vietnam side that finished top of Group A unbeaten.
The first leg of the semifinal will take place at Kuala Lumpur Stadium on August 16, where Malaysia will hope to capitalize on home advantage and the support of their fans.
The two teams will then travel to Hanoi for the decisive second leg at My Dinh National Stadium on August 19, with a place in the ASEAN Cup 2026 final at stake.
VSN/RPT
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