13 Teams Joining M-League 2025-2026, Sri Pahang Stay Out

KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 (Bernama) -- Sri Pahang FC have confirmed that they will not participate in the Malaysia League (M-League) this season despite being granted a National License by the First Instance Body (FIB).
The Malaysian Football League (MFL) announced in a statement that the 'Elephants' squad, which received the 2025/26 national license, has decided not to compete in the M-League by submitting a confirmation letter dated June 16.
The decision will see 13 teams participating in the new season which will begin on August 8.
bootstrap slideshow
"All clubs have been granted the 2025-2026 National License by the independent First Instance Body (FIB) with the club from Brunei, DPMM FC, being granted approval from the International Football Association Board (FIFA) and the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) to compete in the 2025-2026 Malaysia League.
"However, Sri Pahang FC, which also received the 2025-2026 National License, have decided not to compete in the Malaysia League this season by submitting a confirmation letter dated 16 June 2025," said MFL in a statement issued on its Facebook page today.
According to MFL, the clubs competing in the championship this time are Johor Darul Ta'zim FC (JDT), Selangor FC, Penang FC, Kuching City FC, Sabah FC, Terengganu FC, Negeri Sembilan FC, Kelantan Darul Naim FC, Kuala Lumpur City FC, PDRM FC and DPMM FC and two clubs from AFL A1, namely Melaka FC and Imigresen FC.
Commenting further, MFL announced that this season's Malaysian League calendar will begin with a clash between JDT, the Super League champion and Selangor, the Super League runners-up in the Charity Shield match on August 8, 2025, which is also the league's opening match at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Johor.
Meanwhile, the FA Cup tournament will begin in mid-August, the Malaysia Cup and MFL Challenge Cup in January 2026.
MFL also announced that this season's Malaysian League calendar will run for 10 months, after last season's adjustment which lasted 14 months to align the schedule with international leagues.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Barnama

5 hours ago

• Barnama

13 Teams Joining M-League 2025-2026, Sri Pahang Stay Out

KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 (Bernama) -- Sri Pahang FC have confirmed that they will not participate in the Malaysia League (M-League) this season despite being granted a National License by the First Instance Body (FIB). The Malaysian Football League (MFL) announced in a statement that the 'Elephants' squad, which received the 2025/26 national license, has decided not to compete in the M-League by submitting a confirmation letter dated June 16. The decision will see 13 teams participating in the new season which will begin on August 8. bootstrap slideshow "All clubs have been granted the 2025-2026 National License by the independent First Instance Body (FIB) with the club from Brunei, DPMM FC, being granted approval from the International Football Association Board (FIFA) and the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) to compete in the 2025-2026 Malaysia League. "However, Sri Pahang FC, which also received the 2025-2026 National License, have decided not to compete in the Malaysia League this season by submitting a confirmation letter dated 16 June 2025," said MFL in a statement issued on its Facebook page today. According to MFL, the clubs competing in the championship this time are Johor Darul Ta'zim FC (JDT), Selangor FC, Penang FC, Kuching City FC, Sabah FC, Terengganu FC, Negeri Sembilan FC, Kelantan Darul Naim FC, Kuala Lumpur City FC, PDRM FC and DPMM FC and two clubs from AFL A1, namely Melaka FC and Imigresen FC. Commenting further, MFL announced that this season's Malaysian League calendar will begin with a clash between JDT, the Super League champion and Selangor, the Super League runners-up in the Charity Shield match on August 8, 2025, which is also the league's opening match at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Johor. Meanwhile, the FA Cup tournament will begin in mid-August, the Malaysia Cup and MFL Challenge Cup in January 2026. MFL also announced that this season's Malaysian League calendar will run for 10 months, after last season's adjustment which lasted 14 months to align the schedule with international leagues.

New Straits Times

5 hours ago

• New Straits Times

Sri Pahang's M-League withdrawal a 'reset,' says club legend

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Jamal Nasir believes Sri Pahang 's withdrawal from the 2025-26 M-League should not be viewed as a failure but as a reset. The football legend, who starred for the Elephants in the 1970s, said the club must have had valid reasons to pull out of next season's competition and hopes it will allow them to regroup for a stronger return. While he admits the decision is deeply saddening, Jamal urged fans to remain calm and understanding. "It's heartbreaking, of course. This club once stood among the best in the Super League and even made it to the Malaysia Cup final. Now they're stepping away, and it's not easy to accept," he said. "I'm sad too, but what can we do? I'm sure there are unavoidable reasons behind this. Even though they obtained their national licence, perhaps there are internal issues that need to be resolved first." The Malaysian Football League (MFL) confirmed on Friday that Sri Pahang had submitted their withdrawal letter on June 16. The team's absence is a major blow to Malaysian football, considering their rich legacy in domestic competitions. The Elephants have won multiple titles throughout the years, including the Super League, Malaysia Cup and FA Cup. Their most recent silverware was the FA Cup in 2018, when they beat Selangor 2-0 in the final. Jamal highlighted the team's past financial struggles, including unpaid salaries, and urged fans not to point fingers. "Don't blame anyone. The management must've thought this through carefully. "Maybe taking one step back is necessary, so they can come back stronger later. I'm staying positive. This decision could be the beginning of something better for the club." Sri Pahang finished eighth in the 2024-25 Super League and were runners-up in the Malaysia Cup, making their sudden withdrawal all the more shocking. With their exit, only 13 clubs remain for the 2025-26 season — Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), Selangor, Penang, Kuching City, Sabah, Terengganu, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan Darul Naim, KL City, Police, DPMM, Melaka and Immigration.

The Star

5 hours ago

• The Star

Blow to MFL as giants Pahang withdraw from Super League

Pahang's last action on the field was at the Malaysia Cup final in April this year. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star PETALING JAYA: Pahang have finally put an end to the uncertainty over their future in the Malaysian League after confirming their withdrawal from next season's campaign. Speculation had been rife since late March over the fate of the 2004 Super League champions, although hopes were briefly lifted when they secured a national licence from the independent First Instance Body (FIB). However, the Malaysian Football League (MFL) have now confirmed that the club submitted an official letter dated June 16 to inform the governing body of their decision to opt out of all competitions for the 2025-2026 season. Pahang's exit means only 13 teams will feature in the top-tier domestic league, which kicks off on Aug 8. 'Clubs competing for honours this season include Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), Selangor, Penang, Kuching City, Sabah, Terengganu, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Police and Brunei, along with AFL A1 representatives Melaka and Imigration. 'All 13 teams have been granted the National Licence for the 2025–2026 cycle by the FIB, while Brunei received special approval from the International Football Federation (FIFA) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to rejoin the Malaysian League this season," said MFL in a statement.