Coach John Herdman is determined to lead Indonesia to end their AFF Cup drought, even without their European-based stars.

The 2026 AFF Cup is just weeks away, and the Indonesian team is in its final stage of preparation, aiming to win their first championship in history.

Indonesia's squad will assemble in Bali for a training camp led by Coach John Herdman. With positive momentum from recent FIFA rankings and friendly matches, the English manager is expected to help the team escape their history of six final defeats in the Southeast Asian championship.

Since the competition began in 1996 under the name Tiger Cup, Indonesia has never been crowned champions. They have appeared in the final six times but have missed out on the title on every occasion.

Nevertheless, the team's displays under John Herdman have inspired hope. They recorded two wins against Oman and Mozambique in the June FIFA Days, showcasing further positive development in their style of play and reliability.

Indonesia's primary challenge at the 2026 AFF Cup is the unavailability of most of their Europe-based players, as the competition is not held during FIFA Days. Players such as Jay Idzes, Calvin Verdonk, Justin Hubner, Ragnar Oratmangoen, Kevin Diks, Ole Romeny, and Emil Audero will probably miss the tournament because their clubs are not required to let them go.

Despite this, Indonesia retains a wealth of experience with players like Thom Haye, Jordi Amat, Eliano Reijnders, Beckham Putera, Ricky Kambuaya, Doni Try Pamungkas, and captain Rizky Ridho.

According to local football pundit Ronny Pangemanan, the coaching team will hold a camp in Bali from July 5th to 11th before confirming the final roster. The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) has summoned players from the Liga Super, reflecting Herdman's focus on utilizing domestic talent.

Ronny Pangemanan assesses that despite the absence of several foreign-based players, Indonesia still possesses sufficient squad depth to vie for the championship. He also views the selection of Bali for the training camp as a wise decision, thanks to its excellent facilities which the team has utilized for years.

For John Herdman, the 2026 AFF Cup is not only a chance to break Indonesia's title duck that has lasted almost three decades, but it is also an opportunity to assess the squad for larger goals ahead, such as the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 scheduled for September and October.