The national Under-23 (U23) football team missed out on a spot in the 2026 U23 Asian Cup finals after a heartbreaking 1-2 defeat to Thailand in their final Group F qualifying match today at Thammasat Stadium, Pathum Thani.
Thailand took the lead in the 32nd minute through Kakana Khamyok, but Malaysia quickly responded, with Ahmad Aysar Hadi Mohd Shapri leveling the score just eight minutes later.
As the match seemed destined for a draw, Khamyok struck again in injury time, giving the hosts a dramatic 2-1 victory.
With this win, Thailand topped Group F with 7 points, securing qualification for next year’s U23 Asian Cup, while Lebanon claimed second place on goal difference. Malaysia finished third in the group with three points, courtesy of their 7-0 victory over Mongolia earlier in the qualifiers.
