RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The stage is set for the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup, which begins Tuesday, January 27, with host nation Indonesia placed in Group A alongside South Korea, Iraq, and Kyrgyzstan.

South Korea coach Paulo Fernandes, whose team faces Indonesia in their opening match, expressed excitement about the atmosphere in Jakarta.

“Playing in Indonesia will be a special experience the players have been looking forward to, especially with so many fans expected to watch. Most importantly, we are here to win,” he said during a press conference at Indonesia Arena on Monday, January 26, as quoted by Antara.

Iraq coach Joao Carlos also maintained high ambitions despite fielding a squad with more than 40 percent new faces. “We came to Indonesia with the goal of winning. Even with many new players, our target remains to advance to the next round. This is a valuable experience for them at the Asian level,” he noted.

Echoing that determination, Kyrgyzstan coach Nurjan Djetybaev underlined his team’s commitment. “Every country wants to win, and so do we. We arrived early in Jakarta to prepare as thoroughly as possible,” he said.

The tournament runs from January 27 to February 7.

Group A features Indonesia, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, and South Korea. Group B includes Thailand, Vietnam, Kuwait, and Lebanon. Group C brings together Japan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Australia, while Group D is comprised of Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia. ***