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View all search resultsWith ASEAN Cup looming, coach Herdman begins Indonesia rebuild
New coach sees Southeast Asia’s premier tournament as a proving ground for depth and belief, as Indonesia faces unexpected exclusion from the 2026 Asian Games.
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New boss: Englishman John Herdman, the newly appointed head coach of Indonesia’s national soccer team, answers journalists’ questions during a press conference in Jakarta on Jan. 13, 2026. (AFP/Bay Ismoyo )
I
ndonesia’s rebuild under new coach John Herdman will take its first major regional test at the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 in July and August, a tournament the Englishman views as both a benchmark and a launch pad for longer term ambitions.
Appointed in January to replace Patrick Kluivert, the former Canada coach is preparing to lead Indonesia into Southeast Asia’s flagship competition for the first time in his tenure. Often described as the jewel in the crown of ASEAN soccer, the Hyundai Cup, previously known as the AFF Cup, arrives at a pivotal moment as Herdman begins shaping a squad capable of competing among the region’s elite.
Indonesia has been drawn in Group A alongside defending champion Vietnam, four-time winner Singapore, Cambodia and either Timor-Leste or Brunei.
“I’m really excited about the Hyundai Cup because, having lived the Gold Cup in CONCACAF, it just has a different feel,” Herdman said in a statement.
“The players you work with are so hungry. Typically these are the guys who are making way for the European players, the ones in Serie A and the Bundesliga, but this is their chance and if you harness that, there’s a real connection to each other and the fans and the tournament.
“That’s the one I’m really excited for this year. I’m desperate to experience the Southeast Asian passion. Coming from Newcastle, all I can relate to is the Sunderland Newcastle derby and apparently here the rivalries are on ‘steroids’!”
Indonesia is still seeking its first Hyundai Cup title after six runner-up finishes since the competition began in 1996. Herdman will get an early taste of home support when Indonesia faces Cambodia on July 31, with stadiums expected to be awash in red and white.
