RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s national team head coach John Herdman has made it clear that his approach to the upcoming AFF Cup 2026 (ASEAN Hyundai Cup) will be built on discipline and mentality rather than lofty promises of silverware.

Speaking at Gelora Bung Karno’s Madya Stadium in Jakarta on Friday, May 22, 2026, Herdman stressed that his team must take the tournament “one match at a time” instead of being consumed by the idea of winning the title.

“One match at a time. If you focus too much on the final result, you lose the process,” Herdman told reporters, as quoted by Antara.

He recalled his experience guiding Canada to the 2022 World Cup after 36 years of absence, noting that success came from setting point targets and treating each game as a separate battle.

Indonesia will begin its Group A campaign against Cambodia on July 27, followed by an away fixture against the playoff winner between Brunei Darussalam and Timor Leste on July 31.

The Garuda squad then hosts Vietnam on August 3 before closing the group stage away to Singapore on August 7. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, played over two legs on August 15–16 and 18–19, with the final scheduled for August 22 and 26.

Despite Indonesia’s history of reaching six finals without ever lifting the trophy, Herdman insisted he would not dwell on the past or make bold declarations.

“Our first opponent is Cambodia. That’s our only focus. We fight and win that match, then move on. I don’t want to talk about ‘we must be champions.’ If the process and mentality are right, the results will follow,” he said.

Beyond tournament goals, Herdman also emphasized the need to change Indonesia’s attacking mindset. He argued that the team should not rely solely on a traditional striker but instead cultivate a mentality where every player--from defenders to midfielders--feels responsible for scoring.

“This country keeps talking about the number nine, the pure striker. Indonesia needs the mentality that all players can score goals. We must build a scoring mentality,” he explained.

Reflecting on his early matches in charge during the FIFA Series 2026, where Indonesia beat Saint Kitts and Nevis 4–0 but lost narrowly to Bulgaria 0–1, Herdman admitted the team still has work to do in the attacking third.

“Two-thirds of the pitch are good, but the final third still has many shortcomings. We’ll fix that in this camp,” he concluded.

This pragmatic approach--balancing tactical discipline with a shift in mentality--signals Herdman’s intent to reshape Indonesia’s football identity, focusing less on chasing history and more on building a team that believes every player can be decisive. ***