Circumstances dictated that Terengganu FC (TFC) would benefit from the truncated 2020 Malaysia football season following the cancellation of both the cup competition, the FA Cup and Malaysia Cup. A spot in the 2021 AFC Cup was initially reserved for the winner of the FA Cup, later transferred over to the Malaysia Cup after the former competition was first canceled before the resumption of competitions in 2020.
However rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country coupled with enforced stricter controls late in 2020 meant that the Malaysia Cup was also scrapped after the opening round and the AFC Cup spot went to the team who finished third in the Super League, which turned out to be TFC.