Johor bahru: Johor Darul Ta’zim Football Club (JDT) have set their sights on continued success on the international stage, including in the AFC Champions League (ACL) Elite and FIFA Club World Cup, in line with the directive of JDT owner Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, JDT Football Club chief executive officer Luis Garcia said the Regent of Johor’s directive is the key impetus for the Southern Tigers to maintain their remarkable performance and soar higher in the Asian and world football arenas. “His Royal Highness Tunku Mahkota Ismail, who is the Regent of Johor and owner of JDT Football Club, has commanded that the Southern Tigers maximise our potential and proudly fly the Johor and Malaysian flags higher on the international stage, both on and off the field,” he said in a statement uploaded on the club’s official Facebook page today.

He noted that as the only Malaysian representative in the ACL Elite since 2019, JDT have played an important role in contributing the majority of the ‘AFC Member Association’ ranking points, thus opening up more opportunities for local clubs to participate in the Asian club tournament. The club’s aim is not only to maintain their performance but to elevate Malaysian football by enabling more Malaysian clubs to qualify for Asian-level competitions.

Garcia highlighted the expansion of the FIFA Club World Cup format, which may see more Asian teams, not just limited to the ACL Elite champions, giving JDT an opportunity to eye a slot in the tournament through its Asian club ranking. JDT have set a target to consistently advance further in the ACL Elite to improve their Asian club ranking and be in a better position to represent Malaysia at the highest stage of world club football.

He acknowledged the tough trek ahead and stressed that such success requires high commitment and meticulous planning, given the highly competitive landscape of Asian football. Achieving this target is no easy task, and maintaining focus is essential for JDT to succeed in this major mission. The new players brought in for the 2025-26 season are aligned with this direction, and JDT’s success in Asia will certainly also be a success for Malaysian football.