Malaysia seek first win over Vietnam since 2014 in third-place playoff

Malaysia coach Tan Cheng Hoe is aiming to break his team's winless sequence against Vietnam in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 third-place playoff in Indonesia. He said Malaysia would need concentration and precise finishing against opponents he described as dangerous in attack and quick in transition.

Malaysia's most recent recognised victory over Vietnam came in 2014, when they won 4-2 in Hanoi to reach the AFF Cup final with a 5-4 aggregate score. Their subsequent record against Vietnam comprises nine defeats and one draw.

A 4-0 Malaysian win on June 10, 2025, in qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup was later changed to a 3-0 defeat. FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport found fraud in the naturalisation of seven players. Malaysia's result against Nepal was also overturned, and the team lost its place at the Asian Cup finals.

At the current tournament, Malaysia defeated Bangladesh 3-0 and Singapore 6-0, with a goalless draw against Indonesia between those matches. Malaysia and Indonesia each collected seven points with a +9 goal difference, but the hosts advanced to the final after scoring 11 goals compared with Malaysia's nine.

Bergson has contributed four goals across three national-team appearances, while Malaysia have conceded none during the tournament. However, captain Dion Cools has departed to attend to a family matter. Tan said he saw improvements in both attack and defence despite missing the final.

Vietnam arrived without their strongest squad. Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Thanh Chung suffered injuries, Nguyen Xuan Son is also unavailable, and Do Hoang Hen is likely to miss the playoff. Vietnam's 27-match unbeaten streak ended with a 2-0 loss to Thailand. Tan urged his players to respect Vietnam while retaining confidence in their own ability.