AFC comments on Vietnam's group in the Asian Cup qualifiers

Malaysia's appeal to the CAS has prevented the AFC from finalizing the top spot in Group F, which includes Vietnam, causing delays in preparations for the 2027 Asian Cup draw.

While Malaysian football fans anxiously await the outcome of the case involving the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also finds itself in a difficult position. This is because the AFC needs to promptly confirm the leading team in Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers to facilitate the upcoming draw preparations.

According to the AFC, determining the final rankings in Group F, which features Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos, and Nepal, is mandatory. This is because the 2027 Asian Cup final draw will take place on April 11, 2026, in Saudi Arabia, and all team-related information must be finalized well in advance.

The situation has become complicated as Malaysia is accused of falsifying documents related to seven naturalized players. The case has been submitted by FAM to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with a final decision expected this month.

AFC Secretary General, Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John, emphasized that the AFC does not want to "redo work" due to changes after the draw.

“To prepare for the draw, we need to know exactly which team will top the group to place them in the correct seeding pot. This is the most crucial factor,” said Windsor.

“We do not want to conduct the draw and then have to adjust it because of a new CAS ruling. That is what the AFC is trying to avoid. Everything must be clear, especially for the group including Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos, and Nepal,” the AFC official stressed.

However, the AFC admitted it cannot predict the success of FAM’s appeal. Past cases taken to CAS have sometimes resulted in harsher penalties than the original FIFA Appeal Committee’s decisions.

Notably, FAM has not disclosed the specific contents of their appeal, leaving the public unclear about the legal grounds the association is pursuing.

“In the context of FAM’s case, we need to understand exactly what they are appealing: whether it concerns the application of Article 22 or the duration of the sanctions against the players. These factors will be key in CAS’s final decision,” Windsor added.

While awaiting the official ruling, the situation in Group F and its ripple effects on organizing the 2027 Asian Cup remain a major uncertainty for the AFC.