Match day in Jakarta: Harimau Malaya open FIFA ASEAN Cup against Bangladesh, live on RTM

Harimau Malaya begin their FIFA ASEAN Cup campaign today, Friday 25 September. They face Bangladesh at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta at 5pm Malaysian time. It is Malaysia's first match in the new tournament and the start of a busy week that also includes matches against hosts Indonesia and Singapore.

Where to watch

Fans at home will not need a subscription to follow the team. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday that Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) would broadcast the national team's games live.

"RTM will broadcast Harimau Malaya matches live, starting with the match against Bangladesh tomorrow," Anwar said, as reported by Bernama. He also urged Malaysians to "give our full support to the national team."

The stakes

On paper, Malaysia are favourites. They are ranked 136th in the world and Bangladesh are 181st. But the format of the first FIFA ASEAN Cup leaves little room for mistakes. The Premier Division has two groups of four teams in Indonesia, and only the group winners reach the final at Gelora Bung Karno on 5 October. The runners-up play for third place on the same day.

Group A is the tougher group. Indonesia (118th) are the hosts and Singapore are ranked 148th. With just three group games, a win against the lowest-ranked team in the group is close to essential.

The rewards are big. The Premier Division champions will receive US$1 million from a total prize pool of around US$4 million.

Interim head coach Tan Cheng Hoe has made it clear what he wants from the campaign. According to Bernama, he said his "priority was to get the best out of the squad and regain supporters' confidence."

Know the opponents

Bangladesh are in the tournament as a guest team. They were invited after India withdrew, and they are coached by Thomas Dooley. According to The Business Standard, Dooley is being realistic about his team's chances.

"We know where we stand. I know many fans back home in Bangladesh may expect us to come here and beat everyone, but football doesn't work that way," he said.

The squad includes midfielder Hamza Choudhury and England-based forward Farhaan Ali Wahid. They are captained by Jamal Bhuyan. Choudhury told the Dhaka Tribune the tournament was "a big opportunity to play against teams that are ranked higher than us," and said Bangladesh would try to "get as many points as we can."

Malaysia should expect a team with nothing to lose. Bangladesh are using the tournament to prepare for the SAFF Championship, which they host in November.

Malaysia's road ahead

After today's match, Harimau Malaya stay in Jakarta to face Indonesia on Monday, 28 September. That is likely to be the key game in the group, in front of what could be a very large home crowd. Malaysia then move to Bandung's Si Jalak Harupat Stadium to play Singapore on 1 October.

The tournament is also useful preparation for the qualifiers for the 2030 World Cup and the 2031 AFC Asian Cup, which begin in March 2027.

Elsewhere in the tournament

The competition began on Thursday in the Challenge Division in Hong Kong, according to the Asian Football Confederation. Laos beat Brunei 3-1 and Myanmar beat Timor-Leste 2-0. In the Premier Division, Group B (Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and Pakistan) also starts today.

Key takeaways

• Malaysia vs Bangladesh kicks off at 5pm Malaysian time today at Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta.
• RTM will show Harimau Malaya's matches live, as confirmed by PM Anwar Ibrahim.
• Only the Group A winners reach the 5 October final, so every point counts.
• Bangladesh are coached by Thomas Dooley and include Hamza Choudhury and Jamal Bhuyan.
• Malaysia play Indonesia on 28 September and Singapore on 1 October.

FAQ

What time is Malaysia vs Bangladesh? 5pm Malaysian time (4pm in Jakarta) on Friday, 25 September.

How do Malaysia qualify for the final? They must top Group A, which also includes Indonesia, Singapore and Bangladesh. Only the two group winners reach the final.

How much does the winner get? The Premier Division champions receive US$1 million, according to published tournament details.

Sources: Bernama, Malay Mail, The Business Standard, Dhaka Tribune, Free Malaysia Today, Asian Football Confederation, Wikipedia (tournament details)