PSSI eyes FIFA ASEAN Cup to promote Indonesian culture

Malaysia's football team, Harimau Malaya, is set to face Bangladesh in their opening match of the FIFA Asean Cup in Jakarta later this month. The 65-year-old former United States captain and former Sri Pahang coach, Thomas Dooley, is reportedly plotting Malaysia's downfall in the group opener on September 25 at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

While Malaysia's team is currently under training in Kuala Lumpur, Bangladesh has already completed an intensive residential camp in Dhaka. Dooley has reduced his 28-man squad to a smaller traveling party, indicating a focus on tactical preparation with only two weeks left before the match. Bangladesh, scheduled to arrive in Jakarta on September 19, will have time to adjust to the conditions at Senayan.

This tournament, sanctioned by FIFA and held during the men's International Match Calendar window, features 14 nations with only the group winners advancing directly to the final while the runners-up contest the third-place playoff. Despite Bangladesh being ranked lower (181st) than Malaysia (136th), Dooley's early preparations and insight into Malaysian football suggest the opening match in Jakarta will be challenging for the Malaysian team.