The first 11 that was selected to take on hosts Singapore in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024. FFC
The Cambodian national football team will play an international friendly match on home soil in March, in addition to the previously scheduled friendly against Vietnam. However, the Kouprey’s hopes of securing a spot in the AFC Asian Cup as a replacement for Pakistan seem to have faded.
Cambodia has invited the Aruba national team from South America to play an international friendly as part of the Minebea Mitsumi series.
The match is set to take place at the National Olympic Stadium on Tuesday, March 25, the Football Federation of Cambodia announced on Friday, February 21.
This means the national side will play two friendlies in March. The Vietnam Football Federation invited Cambodia to play against their national team — the 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup champions — on March 19, in Bình Dương province.
Japanese head coach Koji Gyotoku, who has been entrusted with leading the Cambodian national team for the two friendlies, is currently assessing the performances of players from various clubs and will soon select his final squad for the upcoming matches.
Cambodia took on Timor-Leste at the National Olympic Stadium on December 17, 2024. The Kouprey came away with a 2-1 win. FFC
FFC secretary-general Keo Sarath explained that organising the friendlies, which align with FIFA's international match calendar, is aimed at meeting the expectations of sponsors and fans while also giving Cambodia's national team more opportunities to compete against other teams and improve their playing standards.
“As other national teams are preparing for official matches and friendlies under the FIFA Calendar, we also want to take advantage of this period. By participating in these friendlies, our team can gain valuable experience and improve technically. Vietnam has invited us to play there, and in return, we have invited Aruba to play in Cambodia,” he said.
The invitation to Aruba was extended as Cambodia does not have any official matches scheduled in other tournaments. The team has already been eliminated from all major competitions.
Cambodia’s hopes of replacing Pakistan in Group E of the AFC Asian Cup 2025, the chances appear slim. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has not provided any indications to FFC regarding a potential replacement.
The group stage matches are set to begin on March 25.
“The AFC has not contacted us, so we do not expect to replace Pakistan. If AFC had chosen us as a replacement, they would have informed us by now. Since there has been no communication, it is likely that the team scheduled to play against Pakistan will receive an automatic win, or AFC may use another method to determine the qualifying team,” said Sarath.
