2023 Merdeka Tournament

2023 Merdeka Tournament

Pesta Bola Merdeka
Tournament details
Host country	Malaysia
Dates	13–17 October 2023
Teams	3 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)	1 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions	Tajikistan (1st title)
Runners-up	Malaysia
Third place	India
Tournament statistics
Matches played	2
Goals scored	8 (4 per match)
Attendance	82,708 (41,354 per match)
← 2013 2024 →

The 2023 Merdeka Tournament was the 42nd edition of the tournament which was organised by the Football Association of Malaysia. The tournament, which featured three participants, took place between 13 and 17 October.

Tajikistan emerged as the champion of the tournament for their first title after beating host Malaysia 2–0 at the final. ^{[1] [2]}

Participating nations

The teams were announced by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) in March 2023. ^{[3] [4]} The draw took place on 8 August 2023. ^[5] However, Lebanon later pulled out of the tournament due to the 2026 World Cup qualifying draws putting them in the same group with Palestine, later replaced by Tajikistan. ^{[6] [7]}

Due to Israel's genocide of Palestinians, Palestine decided to withdraw three days prior to the tournament. ^[8]

The following are the FIFA Rankings of the participating national teams, as of 21 September 2023. ^[9]

•   Palestine (97) (withdrew)
•   Lebanon (101) (withdrew)
•   India (102)
•   Tajikistan (110)
•   Malaysia (134)

Venue

All matches were played at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ^{[4] [10]}

Kuala Lumpur
Bukit Jalil National Stadium
Capacity: 87,411
	Kuala Lumpur

Matches

All times are local, MST (UTC+8).

Match rule

• 90 minutes.
• Penalty shoot-out after a draw in 90 minutes.
• Maximum of five substitutions.

Bracket

	Semi-finals				Final
	13 October – Bukit Jalil National Stadium
	Malaysia	4
					17 October – Bukit Jalil National Stadium
	India	2
					Malaysia	0
	13 October – Bukit Jalil National Stadium
					Tajikistan	2
	Palestine
	Tajikistan	w/o

Semi-finals

13 October 2023 (2023-10-13)

21:00

Malaysia	4–2	India
Cools 7' Arif 20' (pen.) Faisal 42' Corbin-Ong 61'	Report (Olympics.com) Report (FAM)	Naorem 13' Chhetri 51'

Bukit Jalil National Stadium , Kuala Lumpur

Attendance: 46,150

Referee: Mongkolchai Pechsri (Thailand)

Final

17 October 2023 (2023-10-17)

21:00

Malaysia	0–2	Tajikistan
	Report (TheStar) Report (FAM)	Soirov 44' Samiev 88'

Bukit Jalil National Stadium , Kuala Lumpur

Attendance: 36,558

Referee: Hoàng Ngọc Hà (Vietnam)

Winners

2023 Merdeka Tournament Winner
Tajikistan 1st title

Goalscorers

There were 8 goals scored in 2 matches, for an average of 4 goals per match.

1 goal

• Sunil Chhetri
• Naorem Mahesh Singh
• Arif Aiman Hanapi
• Dion Cools
• La'Vere Corbin-Ong
• Faisal Halim
• Shahrom Samiev
• Rustam Soirov

References

1. "Сборная Таджикистана – победитель «Кубка Мердека-2023»" [Tajikistan national team is the winner of the Merdeka Cup 2023]. Pressa.tj (in Russian). 15 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
2. "Tajikistan beat Malaysia 2-0 to win 42nd edition of Merdeka Tournament". Bernama. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023– via The Borneo Post.
3. Rajan, K. (8 August 2023). "Palestine, Lebanon and India sign up for Merdeka Tournament". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
4. "Siaran Media: Jualan ticket Pestabola Merdeka 2023 edisi ke-42 Bermula 9 Ogos". fam.org.my (in Malay). 5 August 2023. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
5. "India drawn against hosts Malaysia in Merdeka Tournament 2023". the-aiff.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
6. "Tajikistan replace Lebanon in Merdeka Cup 2023". Khel Now. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
7. "Tajikistan replaces Lebanon at Merdeka Tournament". New Straits Times. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
8. "SIARAN MEDIA: PALESTIN SAH TARIK DIRI, FAM KEKAL FORMAT PESTABOLA MERDEKA 2023 | FAM". fam.org.my (in Malay). Retrieved 10 October 2023.
9. "FIFA men's football team rankings". www.fifa.com. 22 December 2022. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
10. Guha, Sayantan (5 April 2023). "Malaysia FA confirms India's participation in Merdeka Cup 2023; tournament to be held from October 14 to 17". sportskeeda.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.