ASEAN Cup 2026: Indonesia 'on Alert' Ahead of Vietnam National Team

Indonesia's squad is in Group A of the 2026 ASEAN Cup with the reigning champions, Vietnam. The remaining group members consist of Singapore, Cambodia, and Timor-Leste.

According to Indonesian media, Vietnam has issued a warning signal ahead of the 2026 AFF Cup, which runs from July 24 to August 26. This is a warning that Indonesia's coach John Herdman must pay close attention to.

Indonesia is in Group A with Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, and Timor-Leste.

While coach John Herdman is still choosing the best lineup from the 50 players training in Bali, Vietnam's coach Kim Sang Sik has completed his preparation through a training camp in South Korea.

The South Korean manager arranged three friendly matches against local clubs ranging from K League 1 to K League 3.

Vietnam won all three matches, beating Siheung FC 6-0 (K League 3), Yongin FC 2-1 (K League 2), and Gangwon FC 2-1 (K League 1).

Meanwhile, as of now, coach John Herdman has not yet had any friendly matches to test his strongest squad for the AFF Cup. This leaves the English coach with plenty of work to build cohesion and consistency in playing style for the players.

"From the beginning, John Herdman knew the challenges of building the team for the 2026 AFF Cup. He can only use players currently competing in the Super League," expert Gusnul Yakin stated.

"Fortunately, domestic clubs have allowed players to join the training camp in Bali. As a result, John Herdman has more time to select the best squad for the AFF Cup."

The veteran football expert from Malang believes that Indonesia's toughest opponents are not only Vietnam but also Singapore, a team that has shown clear improvement. The 'Lion City' is also one of the teams that have qualified for the 2027 Asian Cup.

"Therefore, I think John Herdman should also consider the strength of Singapore, a team that can cause many problems for Indonesia."

"Considering the difference in preparation compared to Vietnam, Indonesia's most realistic goal is to finish the group stage as runners-up, provided that Singapore does not become a 'dark horse' blocking our path," he concluded.

The 2026 ASEAN Cup takes place from July 24 to August 8. Defending champions Vietnam are in Group A with Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, and Timor-Leste. Group B features Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Laos, and Myanmar. In the group stage, each team plays two home matches and two away matches.

The top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals, which are played in a two-legged home-and-away format. The final also follows the same format, with no third-place match.