Answering on the ASEAN United homepage, Indonesian national team head coach - John Herdman - said that he considers ASEAN Cup 2026 an important part of the long-term preparation plan for football in the Land of the Ten Thousand Islands.
The Canadian strategist assessed that the regional tournament will help the coaching staff check the depth of the force in the context that it is not taking place in FIFA Days, making the summoning of players playing abroad limited.
Mr. Herdman believes that the ASEAN Cup plays a stepping stone for bigger goals in the continent, and emphasized that team assessment must be based on the actual playing environment.
“Every path is towards the Asian Cup. Therefore, the regional tournament is an opportunity for us to review each position and personnel options,” the Indonesian national team captain shared.
Coach Herdman also expressed special interest in the competitiveness of Southeast Asian football. According to him, this region has high head-to-head intensity and great pressure, creating good conditions to test players' bravery.
I really want to experience the Southeast Asian football atmosphere directly. I come from Newcastle and am used to derbies like Sunderland - Newcastle, but the competition here seems even fiercer," he said.
ASEAN Cup 2026 is scheduled to take place from July 24 to August 26, right after the 2026 World Cup ends. Mr. Herdman said that Indonesia's goal is not only to stop at personnel testing but to aim for specific achievements.
Indonesia's coaching staff is determined to compete for the championship to end the series of defeats in the finals in the past. Previously, Indonesia had reached the final 6 times but had not won the championship.
