Indonesia Targets FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 Title With Top Overseas Players

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - After a back-to-back disappointment in the AFF Cup, Indonesia has set its sights higher on winning the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, with the tournament’s inclusion in the FIFA international calendar enabling the national team to call up its top overseas‑based players.

Secretary‑General of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Yunus Nusi, confirmed that the national team’s ultimate target is to lift the trophy when the tournament kicks off in Jakarta and Bandung this September.

“We hope to be champions,” Yunus said after attending the 2026 Annual and Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders in South Jakarta on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

His optimism stems from the fact that the ASEAN Cup is part of FIFA’s official calendar, allowing Indonesia to call up its best overseas players, including Jay Idzes and Kevin Diks. “Almost all of these players can join, so of course we hope they can deliver strong performances,” he added.

Indonesia has been drawn into Group A Division 1 alongside Malaysia, Singapore, and Bangladesh (reportedly replacing India). Group B features Vietnam, Pakistan, Thailand, and the Philippines.

Matches will be staged at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta and Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, West Java, from September 24 to October 4.

Yunus stressed that winning the ASEAN Cup would be a morale‑boosting remedy after Indonesia failed to reach the AFF Cup semifinals for the second consecutive edition.

“The chairman has already communicated with the coach, and preparations will be intensified for the ASEAN Cup. We hope the team will give their very best,” he said.

When asked whether the team’s performance in the ASEAN Cup would affect coach John Herdman’s position following the AFF Cup setback, Yunus declined to comment. “That’s the Executive Committee’s domain, not mine,” he noted. ***