Vietnam national team could win 3-0 against Malaysia, closing in on the top 100.
FIFA rejected the appeals of FAM and 7 naturalized players; according to AFC regulations, Malaysia almost certainly lost 0-3 to Nepal and Vietnam. Vietnam could add 25 points to 1208.62, moving up to 104th place.
On the evening of November 3rd, the FIFA Appeals Committee rejected all appeals from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and seven naturalized players regarding disciplinary actions previously issued by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. According to AFC disciplinary regulations, Malaysia is almost certain to be handed a 0-3 defeat in their matches against Nepal and Vietnam for using ineligible players. This scenario opens up a great opportunity for the Vietnamese national team to be awarded a 3-0 victory over Malaysia and significantly improve their ranking in the FIFA standings.
Why could Vietnam receive an additional 25 FIFA points?
According to Football Ranking's calculations, if awarded a 3-0 victory against Malaysia, the Vietnamese national team would receive two sets of points: 13.02 points returned for the 0-4 loss, and an additional 11.98 points added due to the 3-0 win as decided by the forfeit. In total, Vietnam could gain approximately 25 points on the FIFA rankings.
Expected scores and rankings
- Current score: 1183.62 points, ranked 111th in the world.
- Potential bonus points: 13.02 + 11.98 ≈ 25 points.
- Total points: 1208.62, projected to rise to 104th in the world.
This is a significant boost to the goal of returning to the top 100. According to calculations, the opportunity will become even clearer if Vietnam continues to win against Laos (November) and Malaysia (March 2026) in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Impact on the journey to the 2027 Asian Cup Finals.
If Vietnam is awarded a 3-0 victory over Malaysia, the door to qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup finals will open wider for the Vietnamese national team, both thanks to an improved FIFA ranking and because the group standings could change as Malaysia might be handed a loss in related matches.
Malaysia faces the risk of falling further down the FIFA rankings.
Sources indicate that Malaysia used seven naturalized players who were penalized in their wins against Nepal (2-0), Vietnam (4-0), Singapore (2-1), and Palestine (1-0). If they are handed a loss in all four of these matches, plus the penalty points, Malaysia could lose up to 70 points in the FIFA rankings. This would have a significant impact on Malaysia's standing in the region and continent.
Decision-making process and timeline
The final decision regarding forfeiture and adjustment of results will be made by the AFC – the organizer of the Asian Cup – after FAM completes all related legal procedures. This process is expected to not exceed March 31, 2026, the end date of the final qualifying round, to ensure that all teams qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup finals are fully determined.
Key statistics
- The expected forfeit results for Malaysia (according to AFC regulations): 0-3 against Nepal and Vietnam.
- Vietnam: +13.02 points refunded due to the cancellation of the 0-4 loss; +11.98 points due to the 3-0 win; a total of approximately +25 points.
- Vietnam's ranking: could rise from 111 (1183.62 points) to 104 (1208.62 points).
- Malaysia: risks having up to 70 points deducted if they lose all four of the aforementioned matches and incur penalties.
- Timeline: AFC expects to complete the process no later than March 31, 2026.
The legal basis is clear; the rest is up to the AFC process. For Vietnam, this is an opportunity to translate their advantage on paper into momentum on the field, starting with the matches against Laos (November) and Malaysia (March 2026) in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
