Indonesia unexpectedly reverses course, Vietnam national team receives a warning ahead of the AFF Cup

Indonesia unexpectedly summons a host of naturalized players who are active in European leagues, creating immense pressure for the Vietnamese side before the 2026 AFF Cup.

The Indonesian national team is drawing attention across Southeast Asian football after suddenly altering its personnel plan ahead of the 2026 AFF Cup. Initially, media in the archipelago had insisted the team would not call up naturalized players based in Europe, aiming to prioritize domestic talent and those playing in the region. However, the latest moves by coach John Herdman reveal just the opposite.

The Canadian manager has announced an assembly list of 44 players for the upcoming FIFA Days in June and the 2026 AFF Cup. The notable point is that many stars plying their trade in Europe have been included in this gathering—Thom Haye, Shayne Pattynama, Marc Klok, and Marselino Ferdinan are all present, indicating that Indonesia is likely to bring its strongest squad to the region’s premier tournament.

Not only has he retained the experienced naturalized core players, Coach John Herdman also given opportunities to many new faces to add squad depth. Eksel Runtukahu, Rizky Eka Pratama, and Brian Fatari are notable names being tested in this camp. In addition, some players who were rarely called up before, such as Rayhan Hannan and Rivaldo Pakpahan, have also surprisingly made the list.

Indonesia’s strong squad upgrade demonstrates the team’s enormous ambitions for the 2026 AFF Cup. After repeatedly missing out on the Southeast Asian championship in recent years, Indonesian football is determined to change its standing with a lineup of superior quality. The combination of naturalized players based in Europe and young, fast domestic talents makes this team a very serious contender.

According to the plan, Indonesia will play two friendlies—against Oman on June 5 and Mozambique on June 9—before finalizing preparations for the AFF Cup. These matches are seen as an opportunity for Coach John Herdman to test the optimal lineup and assess the players’ form ahead of the important tournament.

At the 2026 AFF Cup, Indonesia is placed in the same group as Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, and either Timor-Leste or Brunei. With its current roster, the archipelago team is expected to create enormous pressure on Vietnam in the race for the group top spot and the championship. As a result, the title defense journey of Coach Kim Sang-sik and his players is predicted to be much more difficult.