Indonesia Set to Kick Off 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup Against South Korea

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian national futsal team begins its campaign at the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup tonight, facing South Korea in their Group A opener at Indonesia Arena, Jakarta, at 7:00 p.m. local time.

As hosts, Indonesia is drawn into Group A alongside South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, and Iraq. Earlier in the afternoon, Iraq met Kyrgyzstan in the group’s first fixture at 3:00 p.m.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Monday, January 26, 2026, head coach Hector Souto emphasized that his team’s immediate focus is solely on their opening clash. “We are only concentrating on the first match against Korea, then Kyrgyzstan, and later Iran. Nothing else matters right now,” Souto said.

The Spanish tactician also highlighted South Korea’s defensive consistency, noting the influence of coach Pablo Fernandez and the team’s recent form. “In their last four matches, they conceded only two goals. They drew against Thailand and managed to beat Bahrain,” he explained.

Indonesia enters Asia’s premier futsal tournament riding high after winning gold at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand. Yet Souto was quick to remind his squad that regional success must be left behind as they step onto the continental stage.

“In sport, the past doesn’t exist and the future is just a dream. If we keep thinking about the SEA Games, that’s a big problem. This is Asia-level competition,” he stressed.

This year marks Indonesia’s 11th appearance at the AFC Futsal Asian Cup since debuting as hosts in 2002. Their best achievement to date came in 2022, when they reached the quarterfinals in Kuwait.

Asked about his expectations for the 2026 edition, Souto remained pragmatic. “The longer we stay in the competition, the better. Reaching the quarterfinals would be a good result,” he said. ***