Harimau Malaya to face World Cup-bound Iran, Uzbekistan in CAFA Cup

KUALA LUMPUR: Harimau Malaya will take on Iran and Uzbekistan, who have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, in the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup — their first-ever appearance in the prestigious tournament.
The eight-nation event will be staged in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan from Aug 26-Sept 9, pitting Malaysia against some of Asia's top teams.
Malaysia's participation is being hailed as a sign of growing regional recognition and a major step up for the national team.
The tournament offers coach Peter Cklamovski's men a rare opportunity to test themselves against elite opponents beyond the traditional Southeast Asian sphere, and two teams who will be playing in the 2026 World Cup.
"We are proud to be participating in the CAFA Cup," said Cklamovski.
"We will face tough challenges away from home and compete in a demanding environment against strong opponents.
"These experiences will test us in many ways, both on and off the field, and will be vital for the continued development of our national team.
"This tournament is another important opportunity for Harimau Malaya to make the nation proud, to excite our fans, and to continue building the unity that Malaysian football aspires to."
As reported by Timesport last week, Malaysia were among the teams invited to the CAFA Cup.
Afghanistan, Oman, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are also expected to feature, although official confirmation of all participants is still pending.
Malaysia's inclusion in a tournament usually limited to Central Asian nations is seen as the fruit of strong diplomatic and football ties, and a reflection of the growing ambition under Cklamovski to lift the team's international profile.
The national team currently lead their group in the Asian Cup qualifiers after convincing wins over Nepal (2-0) and Vietnam (4-0).
Iran and Uzbekistan have already booked their places in the 2026 World Cup, along with Japan, South Korea, Australia and Jordan.

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