Indonesian coach: Winning the ASEAN Cup is the perfect stepping stone towards the Asian Cup.

Looking ahead to the 2027 Asian Cup, Indonesia's national team coach, John Herdman, affirmed that the 2026 ASEAN Cup will be a key tournament for him to assess his squad.

Coach John Herdman shared several noteworthy comments ahead of the 2026 ASEAN Cup - Photo: THE NEW YORK TIMES

Speaking to the media, coach John Herdman expressed his excitement ahead of the 2026 ASEAN Cup. He sees it as a golden opportunity to test the depth of the Indonesian national team's squad.

Especially in the context of tournaments not falling under FIFA Days, it is often difficult to call up all the stars playing abroad. Therefore, opportunities will open up for players currently playing in the domestic league.

"All roads lead to the Asian Cup, and this regional tournament is a crucial stepping stone. I hope to thoroughly assess the depth of the squad through this tournament," Coach Herdman shared on the ASEAN United FC website.

The strategist also couldn't hide his excitement at the fiercely competitive nature of Southeast Asian football.

He likened the drama here to being even "hotter" than the English derbies he had ever known.

"I'm really looking forward to experiencing the spirit of Southeast Asian football firsthand. As someone from Newcastle, I'm already familiar with the rivalry in the Sunderland-Newcastle derby, but it seems the competition in this region is even more intense," Herdman commented.

The ASEAN Cup 2026 is scheduled to take place from July 24th to August 26th, right after the World Cup concludes. For coach Herdman, the goal is not just to experiment, but definitely to win the championship. He is determined to help the Indonesian national team break their "runner-up" jinx after six previous defeats in the finals of the tournament.

THANH DINH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hlv-indonesia-vo-dich-asean-cup-la-buoc-dem-hoan-hao-huong-toi-asian-cup-20260215072505016.htm