By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 3: The Piala Cahya Mata 2026 is set to ignite nationwide excitement with approximately 6,400 players competing in the qualifiers across eight states and Kuala Lumpur, with the first match kicking off in Seremban on July 5, 2026, marking the start of what is expected to become Malaysia’s largest community football tournament.
The tournament organiser, Cahya Mata, confirmed the group draw for the Sarawak leg following strong participation, with 32 teams registered locally and a total of 256 teams nationwide.
According to a media release today, the draw finalises groupings for participating sides across Negeri Sembilan, Sarawak, Sabah, Melaka, Perak, Selangor, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Pahang and Kelantan.
With the completion of the Negeri Sembilan and Sarawak draws, and remaining state draws to follow on July 5, the nationwide qualifiers are expected to bring together thousands of amateur footballers vying for state glory.
Each state champion will take home RM20,000 in prize money.
Matches will officially begin in Seremban on July 5, 2026, followed by a simultaneous nationwide kick-off across participating states on July 18, 2026.
To further enhance competitiveness and inclusivity, organisers have introduced the Challenger’s Cup at state level.
The format gives teams a second chance after an opening defeat, placing them into a secondary bracket where they can still compete for honours.
Winners of the Challenger’s Cup will receive RM2,000, while runners-up earn RM1,000, and joint third-place finishers receive RM500 each.
The tournament will culminate in November, when state champions converge in Kuching for the Grand Finals, where they will compete for the RM100,000 championship prize.
For match fixtures, venues, and standings, updates are available via the official portal at cahyamata.sukandigital.com. — DayakDaily
