KUANTAN, Sept 20 -- Local fans have been urged to flood the SUKPA indoor stadium in Kuantan to cheer the national futsal team for three of their 2026 Futsal Asian Cup qualifying matches starting from today.

Pahang Rangers president Tengku Arif Temenggong Tengku Fahad Mua'adzam Shah Sultan Ahmad Shah said the matches were the best way to prove that the country had the best futsal fans who could spur the national squad to greater heights.

"My message to Pahang supporters is to show up and display your spirit and excitement. Show how loud your voices are and turn the futsal scene into a phenomenon.

"Your support will spur the team and inspire them, so come and fight alongside them. This is our home and insya-Allah, we will own the qualifiers," he said in a statement today.

Tengku Fahad, who is also a Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) Futsal Committee member, said that the futsal team had a good chance to qualify and be among the best 16 teams in Asia.

"I believe we can put up a great and intense fight. We know the teams who are showing up are strong and have great reputations and we respect them, but Malaysia is known as a team that doesn't give up easily," he said.

Malaysia will play United Arab Emirates (UAE) tonight, Bangladesh on Sept 22 and finally Iran on Sept 24, and the eight group champions and seven best runners-up from the qualifiers will join Indonesia at the 18th Futsal Asian Cup in January next year. -- Bernama