With time, commitment, Malaysia able to enter 2026 World Cup

SHAH ALAM - Malaysia is able to enter the slots for Asia for the 2026 World Cup, but it will take a long time and a lot of people need to be on the same page.

Former Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) technical director Peter De Roo said Malaysia will need a proper plan that is useful for two or three years ahead that will bring Malaysia into the World Cup.

"There will need to be a proper plan that is always being evaluated from time to time.

“We should not look at how popular the country is or where you were born.

"Everybody is born equally; it is how you nurture them, and it's not only coaching because there are so many opportunities for players," he said during The Footy Forum: The Last Eight programme, last night.

He also said consistency was the key for every football team.

Echoing De Roo’s view, former National Football Development Programme (NFDP) technical director Saad Ichalalene said consistency will require a national effort.

"So, this is something that, of course, is possible, but it will take a long time, and to be consistent in this effort, it is not easy, so I would like to see how we can engage in this in the future," he said.

Saad also pointed out that there was also an element of culture, like in Africa, where people there played street football.

"If we look at African teams, they can play anywhere. It is everywhere and not about development structure," he said.

The Footy Forum is an online football forum hosted by Rizal Hashim and broadcasted live on Sinar Daily's digital platforms.