Indonesia to Test Asian Cup Readiness with China Training Camp

Assistant coach Gendut Doni Christiawan said the squad is scheduled to depart for China at the end of September to undergo a week-long training camp ahead of the continental competition, which will also be hosted by China in March next year.

According to Doni, the decision to hold the camp in China was closely linked to the country's role as the host of the AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2027. The training camp will also include friendly matches against China's U-20 team, providing Indonesia's young players with an opportunity to test themselves against quality opposition.

"The training camp in China is primarily for friendly matches," Doni, who was the joint top scorer of the 2000 Tiger Cup with the Indonesian senior national team, said on Thursday, September 17, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He added that details regarding the number of warm-up matches, whether one or two, have yet to be finalized.

Indonesia secured its place in the AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2027 after topping Group H in the qualification tournament held in Laos. The Garuda Muda finished as group winners with two victories and one draw, scoring five goals while keeping a clean sheet throughout the qualifying campaign.

Indonesia will join a strong field of qualified teams, including South Korea, Uzbekistan, North Korea, Tajikistan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Japan, Lebanon, Oman, Iran, Jordan, Thailand, India, and Malaysia.

The AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2027 will serve as the main qualification pathway for the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2027, which will be hosted jointly by Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

With the tournament carrying World Cup qualification stakes, the coaching staff views the camp in China as an important step in helping players adapt to local conditions while gaining valuable international match experience ahead of the competition. ***