PETALING JAYA: Brunei’s return to the Malaysian League comes with an immediate test – a clash against fellow Borneo side Kuching City in the FA Cup round of 16.

The match is among the headline fixtures of the knockout stage after the draw on Monday.

It would be an exciting affair, as Kuching City, led by the charismatic Singaporean tactician Aidil Sharin, boast some top talents like Ramadhan Saifullah and Daniel Amier Norhisham. 

As for Brunei, they are building a solid team, with Indonesian star striker Ramadhan Sananta one of the players to watch in the domestic scene. 

Another exciting fixture features Melaka taking on Penang, with both clubs having made headlines recently by signing experienced names to bolster their squads.

Defending champions JDT will begin their title defence against UM-Damansara, while Selangor, last season’s runners-up, are set to face university side Malaysian University. The other semi-pro club, Bunga Raya, will take on Sabah.

Elsewhere, Negri Sembilan will visit Police at the Selayang Municipal Council Stadium, and two-time winners Terengganu will clash with Immigration. Meanwhile, Kelantan, eager to bounce back from a tough league campaign, will host Kuala Lumpur in what could be a close contest.

For the first time, the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals will be played over two legs, raising the stakes and strategic complexity for all involved.

Eight top-ranked teams from the 2024/2025 Super League season - defending cup champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), Selangor, Sabah, Kuching City, Terengganu, Kuala Lumpur, Police, and Penang - received automatic qualification to the round of 16 and have been seeded. They will begin their campaigns as away teams.

The remaining eight teams include three newcomers – Melaka, Immigration, and Brunei alongside two Super League bottom sides, Negri Sembilan and Kelantan, and the three semi-pro outfits. These clubs will host the first legs of the round of 16.

As history stands, Selangor and Kedah remain the most successful clubs in FA Cup history with five titles each. 

Pahang and Kuala Lumpur have three titles, while JDT, the reigning champions, boast four.

Other past winners include Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Negri Sembilan with two titles each, and Sabah, Sarawak, Penang, Johor, and Lions XII, all of whom have lifted the trophy once.

The round of 16 will kick off on Aug 16, with the final scheduled for December 2025, promising months of high-stakes football and the chance for new stories to be written in Malaysian football folklore.