RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian national team head coach Hector Souto believes the national futsal team is “on the right path” after a series of milestones, culminating in qualification for the quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup on home soil.

Indonesia secured their place in the last eight after defeating Kyrgyzstan 5-3 in their second Group A match at Indonesia Arena, Jakarta, on Thursday, January 29, 2026. The victory lifted the host to six points from two matches, level with Iraq but ahead on goal difference, and guaranteed a quarterfinal berth with one group game remaining.

“This is the beginning of a process. We are on the right track, but we have to be realistic and move step by step. The journey is still long," said Souto, who has guided Indonesia to the 2024 AFF Futsal Championship title and gold at the 2025 SEA Games, as quoted by Antara.

The win over Kyrgyzstan came after a tightly contested match in which Indonesia twice had to respond under pressure. Goals from Iqbal Iskandar, Firman Ardiansyah, Rio Pangestu, Ardiansyah Nur, and Israr Megantara sealed the result, matching Indonesia’s five-goal tally from their opening 5-0 win over South Korea.

Souto acknowledged that Kyrgyzstan’s use of the power-play system caused problems for his side, despite prior preparation. “We prepared for it, but we didn’t defend it well enough. If we face them again, we must review and improve,” he said, while also praising Kyrgyzstan as one of the strongest teams in the group.

Beyond the result, Souto stressed the importance of international experience for Indonesian players. He noted that several Kyrgyzstan players compete in overseas leagues, while most Indonesian players remain domestically based.

“If we only play here, it’s like living in a bubble. We need to break it, either by sending players abroad or bringing higher-quality foreign players into our league,” he added.

Looking ahead, Indonesia will face Iraq on Saturday, January 31, to decide the Group A winner. Souto made it clear he is not thinking beyond that match, despite knowing the quarterfinal opponent will come from Group B, currently led by Thailand and Vietnam.

“When I get back to the hotel, I will think about Iraq. Iraq, Iraq, Iraq. Futsal is about taking it day by day,” he further said.

Players echoed their coach’s assessment. Ardiansyah Nur said improvements in coaching, tactics, and federation support show the team is moving forward, while Firman Ardiansyah urged continuity in leadership to maintain momentum.

Indonesia’s best-ever finish at the AFC Futsal Asian Cup remains the quarterfinal stage, achieved in 2022 in Kuwait. As hosts this year, Souto believes crowd support could play a decisive role. “Indonesia Arena is our sixth player. With full support, step by step, maybe we can achieve something special,” he continued.

While optimism is growing, Souto urged supporters to remain patient. “Asia is our first target. We must become stable at this level before talking about the world stage,” he concluded, referring to Indonesia’s long-term ambition of qualifying for the Futsal World Cup. ***