Three Argentine Players Called Up by Malaysia's National Team

In an unexpected move, three Argentine footballers have been called up by Malaysia's national team for the upcoming FIFA international window, which includes a friendly against Cape Verde and a crucial match against Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. According to Infobae, Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garcés, and Rodrigo Holgado obtained Malaysian citizenship through their family heritage and completed the necessary legal procedures to be eligible for selection.

Imanol Machuca, born in Roldán, Santa Fe, made his mark at Unión de Santa Fe before transferring to Fortaleza in Brazil. He is currently on loan at Vélez Sarsfield. Facundo Garcés, a central defender with a background at Colón, currently plays for Deportivo Alavés in Spain. Both players were able to naturalize due to their Malaysian ancestry. Rodrigo Holgado, who began his career at San Lorenzo, has played in Mexico, Chile, and is now with América de Cali in Colombia. He was the first to be called up by Australian coach Peter Cklamovski after obtaining citizenship through his grandmother.

Malaysia, part of Group F in the Asian Cup qualifiers alongside Vietnam, Nepal, and Laos, secured a 2-0 victory in their opening match and is preparing to face Vietnam on June 10. Although they did not advance in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the team aims to strengthen its position in Asian football with the addition of these new talents.