FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026: Schedule, Indonesia’s Chances & John Herdman’s Role

Indonesia’s national football team is preparing for the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, scheduled to take place between September and October 2026, coinciding with a FIFA Matchday window. The tournament, announced in October of last year, will involve all 11 member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The newly formed competition has prompted questions regarding its relationship to the existing AFF Championship, though FIFA has not yet detailed the tournament’s format. For Indonesia, the timing of the FIFA ASEAN Cup presents a significant opportunity, as the FIFA-sanctioned dates allow for the selection of the nation’s strongest possible squad, including players based overseas. Indonesia’s national team is currently focused on ending a prolonged period without a major international title. The nation’s last significant achievement was a gold medal at the 1991 Southeast Asian Games, contested at the under-23 level with full national teams at the time. In the AFF Championship, Indonesia has been a consistent contender, reaching the final on six occasions but ultimately falling short of victory. The appointment of John Herdman as head coach in early 2026 has generated considerable optimism among Indonesian football fans. Herdman previously led the Canadian national team to international prominence. Prior to the FIFA ASEAN Cup, Herdman will oversee Indonesia’s participation in the 2026 AFF Championship, scheduled for July and August. Recently, FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) jointly rejected a protest filed by Indonesia regarding the appointment of a Kuwaiti referee for a match against Saudi Arabia, according to reports. The protest did not impact the scheduling of the upcoming ASEAN Cup. Indonesia has also secured a spot in the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup following a victory in the AFC qualification tournament. This success provides a foundation for developing young talent that could feature in future senior national team competitions, including the FIFA ASEAN Cup.