The MFL Challenge Cup (Malay: Piala Cabaran MFL), previously referred to as the Malaysia Challenge Cup, is a football tournament in Malaysia that is organized jointly by the Malaysian Football League (MFL) and the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). The tournament serves as a secondary-tier cup competition for teams that are eliminated during the round of 16 of the Malaysia Cup.
History The tournament was created for the Malaysia Super League and the Malaysia Premier League teams that did not qualify for the Malaysia Cup tournament through their league standings. The idea was mooted by the Football Malaysia in December 2017 as a solution to increase the number of competitive games. The inaugural tournament was held in 2018, with eight teams divided into 2 groups of four and playing a double round-robin system. The winners and runners-up of each group qualify to the knockout stage. The tournament is held concurrently with the Malaysia Cup, with Challenge Cup games mostly played in midweek.
Competition format Selection of teams For the 2018 edition, the team that finished last in the Malaysia Super League, and the sixth-placed to twelfth-placed teams in the Malaysia Premier League qualified for the tournament. From 2020 until 2023 it was not held due to COVID-19 pandemic. The FAM announced its return in 2023, featuring 8 teams eliminated in the last 16 of the 2023 Malaysia Cup.
Knockout stage From the quarterfinals to the final stage of the competition, the matches are conducted in a two-legged format, with each team playing one match at home and another away.
Results List of finals SeasonHome teamScoreAway teamVenueAttendanceRef2018UKM FC2–2Terengganu IIShah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam1,485Terengganu II2–0UKM FCSultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah Stadium, Kuala Terengganu3,800Terengganu II won 4–2 on aggregate2019Johor Darul Ta'zim II1–0UKM FCPasir Gudang Corporation Stadium, Pasir Gudang4,830UKM FC1–0Johor Darul Ta'zim IIKuala Lumpur Stadium, Cheras1,778Aggregate 1–1, Johor Darul Ta'zim II won 6–5 on penalties2023PDRM3–0Kuching CityPetaling Jaya Stadium, Petaling Jaya955Kuching City1–1 PDRMSarawak State Stadium, Kuching2,000PDRM won 4–1 on aggregate2024–25Selangor3–0AwardedPDRMPetaling Jaya Stadium, Petaling Jaya3,768PDRM0–4SelangorPetaling Jaya Stadium, Petaling Jaya2,232Selangor won 7–0 on aggregate 2026Penang1–1 SabahCity Stadium, George Town 8,984 Sabah0–0 PenangLikas Stadium, Kota Kinabalu 20,589Aggregate 1–1, Sabah won 4–3 on penalties
Performance by team The table shown performances by the six teams who reached the final stage of the MFL Challenge Cup. TeamWinnersRunners-upSeasons wonSeasons runners-upPDRM1120232024–25Sabah102026Selangor102024–25—Johor Darul Ta'zim II102019—Terengganu II102018—UKM FC02—2018, 2019 Penang01—2026 Kuching City01—2023
Records and statistics Final Most titles: 1 Terengganu II (2018) Johor Darul Ta'zim II (2019) PDRM (2023) Sabah (2026) Selangor (2024–25) Most appearances in final: 2 UKM FC (2018, 2019) PDRM (2023, 2024–25) Most defeats in final: 2, UKM FC (2018, 2019) Biggest win in final: PDRM 0–4 Selangor (2024–25) Most goals in final: 4 UKM FC 2–2 Terengganu II (2018) PDRM 0–4 Selangor in the second leg (2024–25)
Winning coaches SeasonCoachTeam2018 Mustaffa KamalTerengganu II2019 Ervin BobanJohor Darul Ta'zim II2023 Yunus AlifPDRM2024–25 Katsuhito KinoshiSelangor2026 Juan Torres GarridoSabah
Top goalscorers SeasonPlayerTeamGoals2018 Michael Chukwubunna IjezieUKM FC132019 Bruno SuzukiTerengganu II6 Mateo RoskamUKM FC Milad Zanidpour2023 Uche AgbaPDRM52024–25 Ronnie FernándezSelangor4
Awards Player of the tournament Officially known as MASKargo Player of the tournament for sponsorship reasons, it is awarded to the overall best player of the season. SeasonPlayerTeam2024–25 Ronnie FernándezSelangor
See also Malaysia FA Cup MFL Cup Piala Emas Raja-Raja Football in Malaysia
References