PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s futsal squad may have landed in a tough group with Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan, but head coach Rakphol Sainetngam isn’t the least bit intimidated.
For the Thai-born coach, the draw is less of a threat and more of a golden opportunity to push Malaysian futsal to a new level.
“Facing strong opponents is how we grow. This is a valuable experience for our players to learn, adapt, and improve. We must embrace the challenge,” said Rakphol.
Having guided Malaysia to their first finals appearance in years, Rakphol now aims to replicate that success on a bigger stage in Jakarta.
“Our goal is to achieve something meaningful. I believe this team has the courage and heart to surprise Asia again,” he said.
He acknowledged that the competition will be fierce, but his message to the team is simple — never back down.
“It won’t be easy, but I’ve seen incredible things happen when players believe in themselves. We’ll give our all and play with pride,” he added.
The AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 will feature 16 nations, with only the top eight progressing to the knockout stage — and Malaysia is ready to fight for its place among them.
