Malaysia has experience delivering major projects, but a World Cup would require a network of elite stadiums and reliable links between host cities. Existing grounds would need assessment, while new venues would face the familiar problem of becoming expensive white elephants after the tournament.
The climate adds another layer. Humidity and heavy rain would affect player welfare, supporter comfort and scheduling. Qatar’s use of cooling technology provides a possible reference point, but similar measures would increase the cost of any Malaysian plan.
Traffic is not a minor detail. A tournament spread across several cities would test airports, rail services and urban roads every day, not only during the opening match or final.
The report says Malaysia’s men’s team are ranked 136th in the world and sit behind Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines in the regional pecking order. Hosting would guarantee a place in the tournament, but it would not automatically create a competitive team.
A wider ASEAN bid could distribute the financial and logistical load. It would also create difficult questions over venue standards, political coordination and qualification places for established Asian powers such as Japan, South Korea and Australia.
Reported estimates for staging a future World Cup range from US$8bn to US$14bn. That is a substantial commitment for a country already balancing household pressures, fuel subsidies and long-term liabilities.
The next step should be a serious feasibility study, not a slogan. Malaysia would need to prove that stadiums could be used after the tournament, infrastructure spending would serve local communities and the national team could build a credible football legacy. Until then, the World Cup idea remains an intriguing ambition - and an expensive question.