KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) underlined their domestic dominance after thrashing Sabah FC 5-0 in the 2025–2026 FA Cup final at the National Stadium Bukit Jalil on Sunday night, securing their fourth consecutive FA Cup title and fifth overall since the competition was rebranded in 2013.
JDT took control early, with Jonathan Silva heading home from an Oscar Arribas free-kick in the eighth minute.
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Sabah’s troubles worsened when captain Rawilson Batuil turned the ball into his own net in the 20th minute, before Jairo da Silva struck three minutes later to give JDT a commanding 3-0 half-time lead.
Sabah briefly thought they had pulled one back through Ajdin Mujagic in the 26th minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
After the break, Sabah were reduced to 10 men when Miguel Cifuentes was sent off, allowing JDT to press home their advantage.
Arribas scored the fourth in the 64th minute, while Manuel Hidalgo sealed the rout with an injury-time goal. The match was watched by a crowd of 40,044.
Following the victory, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, congratulated JDT on winning the FA Cup for the fourth straight time.
In a Facebook post, His Majesty also praised the unwavering support of the Johor people and expressed hope that the achievement would inspire further excellence and contribute to the development of national football.
Meanwhile, the Johor state government declared tomorrow a special public holiday to celebrate JDT’s triumph, in line with the wishes of the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail.
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the holiday recognises JDT’s continued success and consistency as the country’s leading football force.
However, he confirmed that Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations scheduled for tomorrow will proceed as planned to avoid disrupting candidates and examination staff.
JDT’s emphatic win also made them the first club to lift the FA Cup four times in a row, further cementing their status as Malaysia’s dominant football powerhouse.
