Hot football news afternoon 14/7: Malaysia national team in crisis before ASEAN Championship 2026

Malaysia's national team is in turmoil before the ASEAN Championship 2026, while MU faces the threat of losing the Ederson deal, alongside many other significant football updates.

Malaysia national team in crisis before ASEAN Championship

Malaysia is facing a major upheaval just before the 2026 ASEAN Championship as the country's largest fan group, Ultras Malaysia (about 80,000 members), has officially launched a boycott campaign against the national team to protest the scandal over naturalized players. The fan group is urging supporters to stay away from the stadium during the group stage matches against Laos and the Philippines, aiming to pressure Malaysian football authorities.

They demand the revocation of citizenship for seven players allegedly naturalized improperly, a reform of the football system, and the return of team management to the FAM. If their demands continue to be ignored, the campaign will expand to the Malaysian domestic league, threatening severe damage to the nation's football image, finances, and morale.

Thailand national team suffers personnel losses

Thailand's national team has officially gathered to prepare for the 2026 ASEAN Championship, but coach Anthony Hudson has received unwelcome news early as key striker Patrik Gustavsson is unable to join the squad and will miss the first three group stage matches due to his duties with BG Pathum United. The absence of the striker with Thai-Swedish heritage is seen as a major blow to the attack of the War Elephants, forcing the coaching staff to adjust their personnel plans.

Nevertheless, Thailand is still considered a strong contender for the title thanks to its experienced squad. The Land of Smiles team will face Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Myanmar in the group stage, hoping Gustavsson will return in time for the knockout rounds.

England national team receives a boost

The England national team has received good news on the personnel front ahead of their big clash with Argentina in the 2026 World Cup semifinals, as both Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are ready to play. Rice had to leave the pitch after the first half of the win over Norway due to a virus, but the Arsenal midfielder has confirmed he is fit to start. Meanwhile, Bellingham has also allayed concerns about a shoulder injury, following questions from the Argentine media about his condition. The Real Madrid star is in good shape and has been in explosive form, scoring 6 goals in the tournament.

The return of this key duo provides a major boost for coach Thomas Tuchel in his quest to defeat Argentina and secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup final.

French legend defends Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe continues to shine at the 2026 World Cup with 8 goals and 3 assists, playing a key role in leading France to the semifinals against Spain. However, the 27-year-old's explosive performances have also sparked debate about his inability to have a similar impact at Real Madrid.

In the face of criticism, legend Christophe Dugarry has come to Mbappe's defense, stating that blaming a player who has scored 42 goals in 44 matches is completely unreasonable. The 1998 World Cup winner believes the issue lies with Real Madrid's system, not Mbappe alone, and emphasized that many stars like Bellingham and Vinicius also perform better when returning to their national teams.

MU urgently seeks Plan B

Manchester United faces the risk of the transfer for midfielder Ederson falling through from Atalanta after medical tests revealed worrying signs regarding the Brazilian's knee injury. Although the two clubs had agreed on a £35 million fee and Ederson had accepted a four-year contract, the Red Devils have yet to make a final decision.

While continuing to assess the fitness of the 27-year-old target, MU has quickly activated backup options. The Old Trafford side is reportedly close to signing Andrey Santos from Chelsea, while also keeping an eye on Joao Gomes (Wolves). After Casemiro's departure, coach Ruben Amorim wants to complete the midfield reinforcement before the new season.

Top football news highlights

Ninh Binh has officially signed Brazilian defensive midfielder Romeu Martins Rezende from Sukhothai FC, completing their five foreign player slots ahead of the 2026/27 V-League. This is seen as a key piece for coach Chu Dinh Nghiem to realize his ambition of competing for the title. Meanwhile, the Vietnam national team has also concluded their training camp in South Korea with a perfect winning record, and coach Kim Sang-sik has nearly finalized the strongest squad for their title defense in the 2026 ASEAN Championship.

In the 2026 World Cup arena, Djed Spence is becoming a super substitute for England after an impressive performance, while Jordan Pickford has warned the Three Lions to be wary of the Premier League stars in Argentina's squad instead of focusing solely on Lionel Messi.

In the transfer market, Cole Palmer has drawn attention with a message to Andrey Santos, MU is closing in on Youri Tielemans, while Chelsea, Arsenal, and PSG are all accelerating to complete notable deals.