McDonald’s MY takes its youth play to the takraw court

McDonald’s Malaysia is putting sepak takraw at the centre of its latest youth engagement play, betting on the homegrown sport to build a new platform for connecting with younger Malaysians.

The fast-food giant has launched the "Mekdi National Takraw League 2026", a national competition aimed at players aged under 16, as part of a broader push to support youth development through platforms beyond education and employment.

With RM60,000 up for grabs, the league is designed to give young athletes a structured environment to compete, sharpen their skills and gain wider exposure.

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Co-organised with Harian Metro, the league is also supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as the Sepaktakraw Association of Malaysia. 

Kicking things off for the league is three zonal rounds in Negeri Sembilan, Kedah and Terengganu. The competition will culminate in a final showdown at the Malaysian Sepaktakraw Academy in Kuala Lumpur this November. 

Azmir Jaafar, McDonald’s Malaysia managing director, said the league reflects McDonald's Malaysia's effort to broaden its support for youth development through more diverse platforms, including sports.

"For us, youth development isn't limited to job and education opportunities,” he said. “They also need space to build confidence, discipline, team spirit, and to showcase their abilities.”

Beyond the matches, the "Mekdi National Takraw League 2026" programme will also be holding a sepaktakraw clinic ahead of the national final. The session will give participants the opportunity to understand sepak takraw better while learning basic playing techniques. They can also try the skills themselves on court.

A mini carnival and community activities will also be held at McDonald's Seremban 2 DT on 3 October, McDonald's Amanjaya DT on 24 October, and McDonald's Batu Buruk DT on 14 November 2026.

The league comes as interest and investment in Malaysian sepak takraw gathers momentum. In April, the Malaysian government announced a RM3 million commitment to strengthen the sport. This fund comprised RM1 million via the sports matching grant for hosting the 2026 Sepak Takraw World Cup, and RM2 million to support Sepaktakraw Association of Malaysia, player welfare and the development of the Malaysian Sepaktakraw Academy.

“Sepak takraw is a sport close to Malaysian society, and we believe the strength of McDonald's network and community can be leveraged to bring more attention to this sport and the players involved," Azmir added.

The "Mekdi National Takraw League 2026" comes as sports takes on a bigger role in Malaysia, with the country hosting the biennial Sukan Malaysia in 2026 and looking ahead to the Asian Games in October and SEA Games in 2027. Formula 1 is also returning to Sepang, further adding to the country's sporting calendar. Against this backdrop, McDonald’s Malaysia has increasingly used sports as a platform to bring the brand closer to fans and communities.

Earlier this year, the brand tapped into football fever with its "Mekdi all stars kick off: RMHC Malaysia charity match", bringing Malaysian football legends, celebrities, influencers and nearly 5,000 fans together at Stadium Merdeka to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities Malaysia. The event formed part of McDonald’s wider football season campaign, which included football-themed products, content and merchandise tied to the FIFA World Cup.

The shift from football to sepak takraw gives McDonald’s another way to participate in Malaysia’s sporting culture, this time with a focus on youth development and a distinctly local sport.

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