Malaysia Target 2026 ASEAN Cup Final, Tan Cheng Hoe: Focus on Bangladesh First

Malaysia national team interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe says he is ready to carry the weight of high expectations placed on him by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) ahead of the 2026 ASEAN Cup. He stressed that the target of reaching the final is not mere rhetoric, but pressure that must be answered with real work on the pitch.

FAM had earlier set a firm benchmark: Harimau Malaya must reach the final. The demand comes amid a tournament format that has no semifinal round. Only the winner of each group advances directly to the final, while the runner-up must settle for competing in the third-place playoff. That means one small mistake can prove fatal.

Malaysia are drawn in Group A of the Premier Division alongside Indonesia, Singapore, and Bangladesh. The composition makes the clash with Indonesia the most attention-grabbing fixture, especially since the two countries share historical ties and a long football rivalry.

Although the duel against Indonesia is the magnet, Tan Cheng Hoe is unwilling to get carried away. He is instead shifting all attention to the opening match against Bangladesh. According to him, a positive result in the first game will be the foundation before facing tougher opponents.

"We see these high expectations as motivation. Most importantly, we must secure a positive result in the first match against Bangladesh," Tan Cheng Hoe said at a press conference in Jakarta, Thursday (24/9/2026).

The former Kedah FA tactician also acknowledged the quality of the Indonesia national team, which is now strengthened by many players from European competitions. However, he stressed that his main focus remains on the match against Bangladesh, not on the potential fierce duel against Garuda.

"Facing Indonesia is always interesting because we are countries of the same stock. Indonesia are the favorites with a line of players from Europe. We are ready, but our main focus remains on tomorrow's match first," he added.

For Indonesia, Tan Cheng Hoe's statement is a signal that Malaysia will not give up easily. Pressure from the federation could actually serve as extra fuel for the players to perform with grit. On the other hand, Indonesia, who are favored, still need to be wary because the tournament format that offers only one final ticket makes every match play out at high intensity.

The Malaysia vs Indonesia meeting in Group A could determine who deserves to advance to the final. If both teams collect wins over the other opponents, their direct duel will be a do-or-die match. This is what makes the 2026 ASEAN Cup different from previous editions: there is no room to play it safe.

The big question is whether Malaysia can turn pressure into achievement, or whether Indonesia will exploit their rival's ambition to seize the final ticket. The answer will begin to emerge when Bangladesh become Malaysia's first opponent at SUGBK.