Indonesia coach John Herdman places his faith in domestic players for the 2026 ASEAN Cup

Indonesia national team manager John Herdman confirmed that the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup will be a stage for domestic players to prove their worth, and will be crucial for the team's quest for glory

After two friendly matches during the June 2026 FIFA Days—with 3-0 victories over Oman and 1-0 over Mozambique—the Canadian coach assessed that many local players have exhibited remarkable progress

"Those will be our domestic players. We have already seen Rayhan Hannan play against Mozambique, along with Rizky Ridho and Dony Tri," Herdman stated

According to the plan, Indonesia will take part in the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup, running from July 26 to August 26. The Indonesian team is placed in Group A alongside defending champions Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, and Timor Leste

Not only does he view the tournament as an opportunity for players in Liga Indonesia to gain experience, but Herdman also sets his sights on winning the title

"These very players will take Indonesia past the AFF Cup. We will bid farewell to Ole and meet him again in September. They have the chance to bring home the trophy and prove themselves," the 50-year-old strategist stressed

He also considers the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup an important stepping stone in preparation for the 2027 Asian Cup finals, which Indonesia identifies as its greatest objective

"They must have the responsibility to represent Indonesia and be ready for the 2027 Asian Cup, the most important tournament for us," Herdman added

The 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup features a notable change in timing, being held in the middle of the year for the first time instead of the usual end-of-year schedule

However, the competition format remains unchanged: the group stage uses a home-and-away system, while the semifinals and finals continue to be played over two legs

With the emergence of many promising talents such as Rizky Ridho, Dony Tri Pamungkas, and Rayhan Hannan, the Indonesian team is expected to pose a significant challenge in the tournament where they share a group with Vietnam, led by coach Kim Sang Sik