Kalasuara -

Malaysia came from behind to beat Myanmar 2-1 at Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, and Thailand routed Laos 5-0 at the New Laos National Stadium in Vientiane, in the opening Group B matches of the AFF Cup 2026 on Saturday, July 25, 2026. Both teams took three points, but their goal differences tell different stories: Thailand sits at plus five, Malaysia at only plus one.

Malaysia rallies from behind in Yangon

Myanmar came out the more aggressive side. Myat Kaung Khant put the hosts ahead in the 10th minute, a tough blow for a Malaysia squad that had been together for only about 10 days before the opener.

Malaysia did not equalize until the 52nd minute. Endrick swung in a corner, Mohamadou Sumareh headed it into the six-yard box, and Paulo Josué finished from close range. Five minutes later, the referee pointed to the penalty spot after Myanmar captain Nanda Kyaw fouled Sumareh inside the area. Josué stepped up and sent goalkeeper Zin Nyi Nyi Aung the wrong way, turning the game around to 2-1 for Malaysia.

Myanmar threatened again through a Than Paing header that Azri Ghani tipped onto the crossbar, and a Saw Myo Zaw header that drifted wide. The score held at 2-1 to the final whistle. Josué's two goals in five minutes, on top of the captain's armband, earned him man of the match.

Malaysia's interim coach, Tan Cheng Hoe, said the comeback win gives the team a psychological lift heading into the next match. "This result certainly gives me confidence. We know there are still some weaknesses, and we're still in the process of building the team's character," he said.

Josué said he was proud of teammates who had barely trained together. "I'm happy. Happy for the boys and proud of the boys. I think after only 10 days together, it's not easy to understand everything that the coach wants from us," he said.

Thailand pile on five goals in Vientiane

In Vientiane, Thailand gave Laos no room from the start. Teerasak Poeiphimai opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a header off a Sarach Yooyen cross, before Kakana Khamyok doubled the lead in the 27th minute.

Things got worse for Laos in the 43rd minute, when defender Phetdavanh Somsanid was sent off for hauling down Yotsakon Burapha, who had already beaten the defense and was running clear on goal. But Thailand's first two goals had already come while both sides were still playing eleven against eleven, proof their dominance did not hinge on the man advantage.

With Laos down to 10 men, Thailand kept piling on: Yotsakon in the 49th minute, Sarach in the 52nd, and Kakana's second in the 59th. The 5-0 scoreline held to the final whistle. Teerasak, who scored once and set up the fifth goal, was named man of the match.

Thailand coach Anthony Hudson said starting spots go to players who earn them, regardless of age. "We are not going to hand out starting positions or playing time simply because a player is young or experienced. Opportunities will be given to the players who deserve them, and the younger players have trained very well," he said.

Why does Thailand's goal difference matter more than the three points?

Goal difference is the first tiebreaker for teams level on points in the AFF Cup 2026 group stage. Thailand's plus five, against Malaysia's plus one, gives them more cushion if the race for the semifinal spots ends level at the close of group play.

The schedule also favors Thailand. Having beaten Laos, they have no other match until they face Malaysia directly at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on August 1 at 8 p.m. Jakarta time. Malaysia, by contrast, must first host Laos at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium on July 28 before flying to Bangkok for that decisive match.

Standings and what's next

After two opening matches, Thailand leads Group B with three points and a plus-five goal difference. Malaysia sits second with three points and plus one. Myanmar and Laos have yet to pick up a point. The Philippines, semifinalists in the 2024 edition, only begin their group campaign against Myanmar on July 28, 2026, so the fight for the top two spots could still shift.

The top two teams in each group advance to two-leg semifinals on August 15-19, ahead of the final on August 22 and 26, 2026. The same format will also decide Indonesia's fate in Group A, where a tight schedule was already a talking point in the preview of Singapore's match against Indonesia.

Watch for three things before the second round of matches: whether Tan Cheng Hoe rotates Malaysia's squad to manage fitness before Bangkok, how Sarach Yooyen recovers after a collision against Laos, and whether Malaysia's defense can hold up against counterattacks like the ones Myanmar repeatedly launched.