Football in Malaysia

Football in Malaysia
The Malaysia national team playing at Bukit Jalil during Final 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup (2014).
Country	Malaysia
Governing body	FA
National team	Malaysia
First played	Late 1800s
National competitions
Piala FA Piala Malaysia
Club competitions
Liga Super Liga Premier Piala FAM Liga Bolasepak Rakyat State League State District League
International competitions
AFC Champions League AFC Cup FIFA Club World Cup FIFA World Cup (National Team) Asian Cup (National Team)

Football is the most popular sport in Malaysia. Association football is a national sport in Malaysia, where the first modern set of rules for the code were established in 1921, which were a major influence on the development of the modern Laws of the Game. The sport of football in the country of Malaysia is run by the Football Association of Malaysia. The association administers the national football team as well as the national league.

In 1997, Malaysia hosted the FIFA U-20 World Cup, but known as FIFA World Youth Championship during that time. In 2007, Malaysia co-hosted the Asian Cup 2007 with three other countries.

Football arrived in Malaysia, (Malaya at that time) with the British. The locals soon picked up the game, and before long it was the country's leading sport. Towards the end of the 19th century, football was one of the central pillars of most sports clubs in Malaya. But it was not structured. Even when the Selangor Amateur Football League took shape in 1905 – which ensured proper administration and organisation – the competition was confined only to clubs in the Kuala Lumpur.

In January 1921, the British Royal Navy battleship H. M. S. Malaya called at Port Swettenham (now Port Klang), Singapore, Malacca, Penang and Port Dickson. During its stay, the crew competed in friendly matches in football, rugby, hockey, sailing and golf against local clubs.