Hyderabad
The long-standing football rivalry between India and Malaysia will continue on November 18 at the GMC Balayogi Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad. This match, set to be another thrilling chapter in their 32 encounters, is crucial as both teams prepare for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in March 2025.
India and Malaysia have a balanced head-to-head record with 12 wins each and eight draws. Despite both teams’ close rankings—India at 125th and Malaysia at 133rd in FIFA rankings—this match will not affect their positions. India recently drew 1-1 with Vietnam, while Malaysia won 3-1 against Laos.
The teams are familiar with each other after facing off in last year’s Merdeka Tournament semi-finals, where Malaysia triumphed 4-2. Both squads feature key players from that match, including India’s Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sandesh Jhingan, and Liston Colaco, and Malaysia’s Arif Aiman and Dion Cools. Both teams have undergone coaching changes, with Spain’s Manolo Marquez leading India and Pau Marti guiding Malaysia.
This match serves as an important friendly for both sides, as they continue to prepare for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. Malaysia enters the match with some recent success, having won the Merdeka Tournament and a friendly against Laos, while India aims to bounce back from their previous draw.
With both teams focused on improving and gaining momentum for future competitions, this encounter is expected to be another intense chapter in their historic football rivalry.
