KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s two upcoming Tier 1 friendlies against China will be about more than just FIFA ranking points, with interim head coach Tan Cheng Hoe viewing the matches as a crucial opportunity to identify players capable of forming the backbone of Harimau Malaya in the years ahead.
Cheng Hoe believes facing an Asian side that has already secured qualification for the Asian Cup will provide a valuable platform for his coaching staff to assess the players at their disposal and determine who can meet the demands of international football.
The 58-year-old welcomed the decision to arrange two matches against China in Guangzhou, saying the quality of opposition would provide Malaysia with an important test as the team looks towards its next phase.
“For me, this is good planning by the management. We know China is a team that has qualified for the Asian Cup and they have their own strengths and experience at the Asian level,” Cheng Hoe told Scoop when contacted.
“Playing against a team of this level will give us good preparation for the future. More importantly, these two matches will give us the opportunity to look at the players and identify those who can become part of the national team moving forward.
“We need to see how the players perform against a strong opponent and whether they can handle the demands of international football. From there, we can make better decisions about the players we want to build around for the future.”
Cheng Hoe said the back-to-back fixtures would also allow the coaching staff to assess players in an international environment, where the intensity and demands differ significantly from club football.
He believes the matches will provide valuable insight into how players adapt, compete and respond when facing a higher-ranked opponent.
“When you play against a team like China, you can learn a lot about the players. It is different from playing at club level because the intensity and demands of international football are different,” he said.
“These matches will help us understand the players better. We can see their strengths, the areas they need to improve and, most importantly, whether they have the mentality and quality to play at this level.
“That is why I see these two matches as an important opportunity, not only for the players but also for the coaching staff to assess what we have and what we need to work on.”
FAM president Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan previously confirmed that Harimau Malaya will face China in two Tier 1 international friendlies in Guangzhou on November 14 and 17.
Ab Ghani said the matches would be important for Malaysia’s efforts to collect FIFA ranking points while improving their position in the draw pots for the 2030 World Cup and 2032 Asian Cup qualifying campaigns.
Malaysia are currently ranked 136th in the world by FIFA, while China are 91st.
The two sides last met in a Tier 1 international friendly in Chengdu in September 2023, when they played out a 1-1 draw.
The Guangzhou double-header will provide Harimau Malaya with another significant test following their 2026 FIFA Asean Cup campaign, while giving Cheng Hoe a valuable opportunity to assess his options and begin shaping the squad for the next phase.
For Cheng Hoe, therefore, the China fixtures are not simply about the results or ranking points, but about discovering which players have the quality and mentality to help Malaysia build a stronger national team for the future. – October 5, 2026