KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia are expected to get a double dose of home comfort in their Fifa World Cup qualifiers.
That’s because Timor-Leste, who are Harimau Malaya’s opponents in the first round of the qualifiers in June, are expected to prefer to play both their two matches (home and away in Kuala Lumpur.
Thus, the Malaysian team should have an easy first step (against lowly Timor-Leste) in the road to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Although the East Timor Football Federation (ETFF) have yet to confirm the matter. FAM believe the former will take this step.
FAM secretary general Stuart Ramalingam said he had been in contact with ETFF general secretary, Nelyo Isaac Sarmento on the matter.
There is a general feeling that Timor-Leste may opt to play their home leg in Malaysia if the Asian Football Confederation rule that their facilities in Dili are not up to the mark.
Malaysia have previously hosted two of Timor-Leste’s home matches due to the former Portuguese colony not having adequate facilities.
In the Asian Cup qualifiers in 2016, Malaysia hosted Timor-Leste’s home match at the Larkin Stadium in Johor.
Timor-Leste also turned the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium into their “home” for one of their 2018 AFF Championship matches.