Merdeka Tournament is an international friendly football tournament held in Malaysia to commemorate the Independence Day. It is mainly played at Independence Stadium, Kuala Lumpur.[1] The competition bears the Malay word for independence. The Merdeka Tournament was once regarded as the 'Grand Old Lady of Asia' where top teams from football playing nations would love to be invited.[2] As of 2023, the tournament has been held 42 times, and with decreasing frequency in recent decades. The Merdeka Tournament is the oldest invitational football tournament in Asia and the matches in the tournament are considered International "A" matches (Friendly match) by FIFA.[3]
The Merdeka Tournament is Asia`s oldest football tournament which invited football playing nations to compete since 1957.[6][7][8][9] The tournament also was once called the ‘Mini Asia Cup’ around the 1960s to 1980s, which was founded by the former AFC President, Tunku Abdul Rahman.[10][11] At that time, the FIFA president, Sir Stanley Rous, was just as surprised that newly independent Asian country could successfully organize a football tournament where all expenses of the visiting teams were fully borne by the host.[12] The Merdeka Tournament proved to be a huge success, inspiring similar tournaments like the Jakarta Anniversary Tournament in Indonesia, the King's Cup in Thailand and the President's Cup in South Korea.[13] While the tournament had been held annually from 1957 to 1988, it has been held only ten times from 1989 to 2023. During the late 1950s to early 1980s, it was a prestigious tournament among Asian nations because the participants sent their full senior players.[14] After the 1980s, interest in the cup waned from both football fans and football teams, because many Asian nations focused more on the qualification phases in FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup.[15]
Malaysia/Malaya exclusively lifted the trophy ten times, emerged runners-up on eight occasions, and in addition shared the winner’s rostrum twice with South Korea (1960 and 1979), while South Korean sides have won it seven times.
The 2024 Merdeka Tournament would be held in September 2024. Three countries will be invited to the tournament, from Kim Pan-gon's decision. The tournament uses the same format as the 2023 edition, where higher-ranked teams received a bye in the semi-final, and only waiting in the finals. [18]
List of finals
Merdeka Tournament logo in 2013.
Below are the list of Merdeka Football Tournament finals since 1957.[19][20]
^ abcdefHong Kong sent its team that consisted of players that represented Republic of China (Taiwan) or Hong Kong from 1957 to 1961. From 1963 to 1968, the team officially represented Republic of China (Taiwan) but was composed of Hong Kong-based Republic of China international footballers; From 1965 onwards, Hong Kong and Taiwan's national teams also participated.
^ abcdTitle was shared after match finished in a draw