Indonesia’s team holds the advantage, aiming for the FIFA Asean Cup title.

For the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup, Indonesia is predicted to take the field with its most powerful squad, bringing together numerous footballers who play in Europe.

Indonesia stands at a historic moment. Not only does it have the chance to host the first FIFA ASEAN Cup, but the archipelago nation is also expected to field its strongest team, featuring many stars playing in Europe.

The new FIFA-organized tournament is scheduled to take place from September to October next. Unlike previous regional competitions, the FIFA ASEAN Cup is part of FIFA’s official match calendar, allowing teams to summon their best players currently abroad.

This is seen as a major advantage for Indonesia. Names like Jay Idzes, Calvin Verdonk, Kevin Diks, Ragnar Oratmangoen, Ole Romeny, Justin Hubner, Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Joey Pelupessy, and Emil Audero could all be available for the Garuda from the start of the tournament.

With such a roster, Indonesia’s chances of pursuing its first title become even more promising.

Optimism has grown following the positive signals shown by the Indonesian team under coach John Herdman. The English manager helped Indonesia rise to 118th in the FIFA rankings after two victories over Oman and Mozambique during the FIFA Days in June.

Moreover, Indonesia is considered the strongest candidate to host the FIFA ASEAN Cup. To bolster this bid, President Prabowo Subianto is expected to soon send a letter to FIFA affirming Indonesia’s readiness to host the tournament.

Direct support from the government is regarded as a key factor in securing FIFA’s trust to organize the inaugural edition of the competition.

Not long ago, President Prabowo received PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir and coach John Herdman at his residence in Hambalang, Sentul, Bogor. The meeting reportedly discussed various preparations, including Indonesia’s potential role as host nation.

Football expert Ronny Pangemanan, also known as Bung Ropan, assesses Indonesia’s chances as very high.

"The government has stated that they would be very proud if Indonesia had the opportunity to host the first FIFA ASEAN Cup ever held in Southeast Asia," Bung Ropan shared on his YouTube channel.

According to him, it’s now just a matter of waiting for the official announcement from FIFA, amid reports that Indonesia is the top candidate.

"Indonesia is the leading candidate for the host role. Therefore, the President will send a letter to FIFA to confirm that Indonesia is ready if truly selected," he said.

Bung Ropan emphasized that hosting is not just about preparing stadiums, but also requires readiness in many other areas.

"Everything must work together — from security forces and medical teams to infrastructure. Hosting must have support from all sectors to ensure the tournament is a success," he stated.

In fact, Bung Ropan believes Indonesia’s chance of being chosen as host has reached about 90%.

"I think the chances are around 90%. We are just waiting for the official announcement from FIFA. With the President’s letter affirming Indonesia’s readiness, I believe the opportunity to be granted hosting rights is very high," he concluded.

If officially selected as the host nation and able to field its strongest squad, Indonesia will have a golden opportunity to make history as the first FIFA ASEAN Cup champion, cheered on by home fans.