Thailand, Malaysia Advance to 2026 AFF Cup Semifinals

Thailand advanced to the 2026 AFF Cup semifinals after finishing the group stage with a perfect record, marking them as Group B champions. Malaysia followed suit, securing their place in the next round after a narrow victory over the Philippines. Both nations will face off against Vietnam and Singapore, the champions of Group A, in the upcoming matches.

The Road to Semifinals:

In their final match, Thailand faced Myanmar at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Western Indonesian Time (WIB). The hosts only required a draw to qualify, but they maintained an aggressive approach throughout the game. Thailand took the lead in the 11th minute with a penalty kick from Kanitsribampen Worachit. Myanmar, aiming to secure a win, intensified their efforts and took greater risks in the game.

Thailand's Dominance:

However, Myanmar equalized the score early in the second half through a penalty kick awarded to them. Jehhanafee Mamah converted the penalty to make the score 2-1 in favor of Myanmar. Yet, Thailand continued to dominate the game, and no additional goals were scored until the end. As a result, Thailand secured their Group B championship with a 2-0 victory.

Malaysia's Triumph:

Meanwhile, Malaysia secured their spot in the semifinals by defeating the Philippines 1-0 at Kuala Lumpur Stadium. Pavithran Gunalan scored the winning goal in the 16th minute for the hosts, giving Malaysia nine points from four matches. They achieved three wins and one loss to claim the second place in Group B and advance to the semifinals as runners-up.

Final Outcome:

In conclusion, Thailand and Malaysia are the two representatives from Group B who will compete against Vietnam and Singapore from Group A in the semifinals of the 2026 AFF Cup.