Vietnam's national team surges strongly in the latest FIFA rankings, Malaysia plunges uncontrollably

The latest FIFA rankings just released have brought notable fluctuations to the Southeast Asian region. While Vietnam's national team shows a strong upward movement, Malaysia finds itself in a situation of uncontrollable decline following a penalty.

According to FIFA's update on March 22, Vietnam's national team has risen 5 places, from position 108 to world ranking 103. This is considered a significant step forward for coach Kim Sang-sik and his team, as Vietnamese football strives to regain its standing after a period of decline. This improvement stems not only from professional factors but is also directly influenced by AFC's disciplinary decision regarding Malaysia's team in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Specifically, on March 17, AFC ruled Malaysia's losses in matches against Vietnam and Nepal due to violations regarding the use of naturalized players. This ruling granted Vietnam's team a recognized 3-0 victory over Malaysia, thereby earning an additional total of 24.1 FIFA points. This includes 13.91 points recovered from the previous loss and 10.19 additional points awarded due to the AFC decision. This point boost significantly helped "The Golden Star Warriors" improve their ranking position and secure a berth for the 2027 Asian Cup.

This is also Vietnam's best ranking since late 2023. Previously, the team had fallen deeply after a series of unsuccessful matches at the 2024 Asian Cup. However, under coach Kim Sang-sik's guidance, the team is showing clear signs of revival. In the past, Vietnam's national team reached world ranking 92 under coach Park Hang-seo, and returning close to this milestone is a feasible goal if stable performance is maintained.

In stark contrast to Vietnam, Malaysia's national team experienced a major shock. This team suffered heavy point deductions and plunged 14 places, dropping to world ranking 135. Previously, Malaysia had reached ranking 121.

Moreover, Malaysian football faces internal crisis as the former leadership resigned en masse, leaving a significant gap in management operations. Losses both in points and morale have plunged this team into a highly unstable period, directly affecting its regional competitive ambitions.

According to the schedule, the two teams will meet again on March 31 at Thiên Trường Stadium. Although the match no longer determines qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, it still holds important value for accumulating FIFA points and asserting each team's standing.