HOT: Malaysia officially receives an unexpectedly favorable ruling.

Even though Malaysia did not earn a ticket to the AFC U23 Asian Cup finals, it unexpectedly remains allowed to join the men's football competition at ASIAD.

According to the latest information, the Asian Olympic Council has removed participation restrictions for both men's and women's football teams at the 2026 Asian Games, following a proposal from host nation Japan that faced opposition from a member association.

As a result, all national associations will once again be free to register their teams for the football tournaments at the 2026 Asian Games. However, for Vietnam's U23 team, coach Kim Sang Sik and his squad are unaffected by this ruling because at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals, Vietnam U23 even won a bronze medal.

For Malaysia and Indonesia, however, this is news that couldn't be more welcome, as both football nations failed to qualify for the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals. Now, with the regulation abolished, Malaysia and Indonesia can send teams to participate in the men's football event of the Asian Games – ASIAD 2026.

Previously, the Asian Football Confederation and the Japanese Olympic Committee discussed and agreed on participation limits: Men's football: Only 16 teams advancing to the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 finals were eligible to compete. Women's football: Only 12 teams reaching the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 finals were permitted to participate.

However, due to the current situation – including some qualified teams withdrawing and strong opposition from countries not meeting the proposed criteria – the OCA has decided to reject the qualification-based participation rule.

For Vietnamese football, VFF has decided to only send a U21 team to participate in the men's football event of ASIAD 2026 as a plan to prepare for the future, instead of fielding the entire squad that just won the bronze medal at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup finals. Vietnam's best achievement at ASIAD was fourth place in 2018.

Coach Kim Sang Sik makes a decision regarding Dinh Bac for ASIAD 2026.

AFC firmly declares it will not penalize Malaysia's team for naturalized players.