Faisal Halim, the 28-year-old captain of Malaysia’s national football team, is preparing to lead Harimau Malaya as they begin their campaign in the FIFA ASEAN Cup starting this Friday. Since making his international debut in 2019, Faisal has earned 40 caps and scored 18 goals, establishing himself as a key winger for the team.

Malaysia is drawn in Group A alongside hosts Indonesia, Singapore, and Bangladesh. The team’s opening match will be against Bangladesh on September 24, followed by a crucial encounter with Indonesia on September 28 at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. Their group stage concludes with a game against Singapore on October 1 at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung.

Faisal acknowledged the significance of facing Indonesia, describing the rivalry as “high-profile” and deeply ingrained in Malaysian football culture. Despite this being his first time competing against the Indonesian side, he expressed confidence in his team’s ability to perform at a high level. Speaking at Kuala Lumpur International Airport prior to departure, he emphasized the maturity and professionalism of the squad in handling the anticipated hostile reception in Jakarta. “Whatever provocation or taunts come from the opposing fans, we just have to face it and stay mentally and physically strong,” he said.

The Harimau Malaya captain also views the tournament as a valuable experience, helping to prepare the team for larger competitions such as the Asian qualifiers and the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Currently in strong form, Faisal noted that consistency remains his main personal challenge, even as his confidence continues to grow. He highlighted the competitive squad depth, with players like Terengganu’s G. Pavithran and Johor Darul Ta’zim’s Arif Aiman Hanapi and Manuel Hidalgo vying for starting positions under interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe.

Last season, Faisal was Malaysia’s standout attacker, participating in 48 matches across all competitions and recording 22 goals and 13 assists. This term, he has appeared seven times and contributed two goals and one assist.

For the ASEAN Cup, Faisal set clear goals for the team: “Our goal is at least to secure qualification for the next stage, hopefully the final.” The tournament offers Malaysia an opportunity to test their mettle against regional rivals and build momentum ahead of upcoming international fixtures.