Pathum thani: The national Under-23 (U-23) football squad began their Group F campaign in the 2026 U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers on the wrong foot after losing 0-1 to Lebanon in Pathum Thani, Thailand, today. In the clash held at Thammasat Stadium, both teams displayed intense action in pursuit of an early goal, but no goals were produced in the first half of the match.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, in the second half, just as the game seemed to be heading towards a goalless draw, Lebanon midfielder Ali El Fadl proved to be the thorn in the flesh of the Harimau Muda by putting his team ahead with a strike in the 84th minute. Malaysia will face Mongolia (Sept 6) before meeting Thailand in the final match (Sept 9), with all fixtures scheduled to take place at Thammasat Stadium.

Only the 11 group winners and the four best runners-up will qualify for the final round in Saudi Arabia next January. Malaysia previously qualified for the U-23 Asian Cup in the 2022 edition (Uzbekistan) and 2024 edition (Qatar), with their best achievement being a quarter-final appearance in the 2018 edition in China.