PETALING JAYA — Argentine-born winger Manuel Hidalgo has received official clearance from FIFA to represent Malaysia’s national football team, the Harimau Malaya, expanding the squad’s options ahead of upcoming competitions.

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) secretary-general, Datuk Noor Azman, announced the development during the organization’s second extraordinary congress held on Thursday. Hidalgo, 27, becomes the third player recently approved to play for the national side, joining fellow Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) teammates Bergson Da Silva and Brad Tapp, who were cleared last Sunday.

According to Azman, the necessary documentation for Hidalgo’s eligibility was finalized and confirmed by FIFA on Wednesday. The FAM is expected to release the official list of players for future matches in the near term.

This additional reinforcement comes as the Harimau Malaya seek to bolster their roster with talent from domestic clubs, particularly JDT, Malaysia’s leading football team. The inclusion of Hidalgo and his JDT teammates aims to strengthen the squad’s attacking options as Malaysia continues its preparations for regional and international tournaments.