Vietnam – Malaysia: 19h30, Friday 24/4.
In their opening group A match, Malaysia lost 0-4 to Vietnam. This result shocked the players, and coach Shukor Adan faced significant criticism.
However, Malaysia recovered quickly, defeating Indonesia 1-0 and Timor Leste 2-0 to advance from the group stage as the best second-placed team. In the semifinals, they beat Laos 3-0, setting up a rematch with Vietnam in the final.
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Malaysia (in yellow) lost 0-4 to Vietnam in their opening group A match of the U17 Southeast Asian Championship 2026 at Joko Samudro Stadium in Indonesia on 13/4/2026. *Photo: FAM*
Beyond tactics, coach Shukor believes the team's main strength lies in their fighting spirit and discipline. "The most interesting aspect of this squad is how the players recovered after what happened in the opening match," the Malaysian coach said. "They became stronger after the heavy loss, then showed their resilience when facing host Indonesia."
Prior to the loss at Gelora Delta Stadium in Indonesia, Malaysia had also lost 0-4 to Vietnam in the U17 Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers at PVF Stadium in Hung Yen on 30/11/2025. This result cost Malaysia a spot in the finals, which went to Vietnam. The country's 2009-born generation of players missed the chance to gain continental experience and compete for a U17 World Cup 2026 ticket.
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Malaysia coach Shukor Adan giving instructions during the 0-4 loss to Vietnam in their opening group A match of the U17 Southeast Asian Championship 2026. *Photo: FAM*
Unlike Vietnam, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) sent their U16 team, with half the squad being U15 players, to participate in the U17 Southeast Asian Championship 2026 as preparation for the U17 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. "Many people do not realize that the opening match against Vietnam was the first international game for many of our players. I view it as a learning process. Advancing from a group with two strong opponents, Vietnam and Indonesia, is commendable," coach Shukor stated.
Ahead of the final, the 1979-born tactician hopes his players will maintain their confidence and resilience to achieve a different outcome against Vietnam. "This will not be easy, but our journey so far shows that the players never give up, supported by a disciplined defense," Shukor added.
Shukor Adan is a renowned former Malaysian midfielder. He represented the national team from 2001 to 2014, securing notable victories against Vietnam in the semifinals of the AFF Cup (now ASEAN Cup) in 2010 and 2014. Before coaching the U17 team, Shukor worked as a technical analyst at Kuala Lumpur City Club and as an assistant coach for the U23 Malaysia team.
This marks Malaysia's third appearance in the U17 Southeast Asian Championship final across 17 editions. Their previous two finals both ended in triumph, with victories over Thailand (2019) and Indonesia (2013) to claim the title.
Trung Thu (according to Harian Metro)
