EXCLUSIVE: John Herdman Responds to Public Expectations Ahead of the 2026 ASEAN Championship

The coach of the Indonesian national team, John Herdman, has responded to the high public expectations for a championship title ahead of the 2026 AFF Cup or ASEAN Championship.

The prestigious Southeast Asian event is scheduled to take place from July 24th to August 26th, 2026.

In this tournament, John Herdman will lead the Indonesian national team in Group A of the 2026-2026 ASEAN Championship.

The Indonesian national team is in Group A with the defending champion Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, and the winner of the playoff match between Brunei Darussalam or Timor Leste.

As a preparation step for the championship, PSSI has called up 23 players to participate in a Training Camp (TC) in Jakarta from May 26th to 30th, 2026.

The defense and attack lines have been prepared. Players such as Nadeo Argawinata, Cahya Supriadi, and Muhammad Riyandi will fill the goalkeeper positions.

Meanwhile, the midfield and front lines are strengthened by key players such as Marselino Ferdinan, Thom Haye, Egy Maulana Vikri, and Witan Sulaeman.

Responding to the high expectations of the public for winning the first trophy, the coach from Consett is very aware of the desire for achievement felt by the supporters.

“I can feel how much the Indonesian people crave success,” said Herdman in an exclusive interview with KOMPAS.com journalist Firzie A. Idris, on the Obrolan News Room (ONR) program.

Although aiming for a regional title, the main focus of the coach born in 1975 remains on a higher target.

This Southeast Asian championship is considered an ideal moment to measure the progress of the Red and White team.

“Tournaments like the AFF Cup will indeed be an indicator of the team’s development, but football cannot be predicted,” said the coach.

He emphasized that the status of being a favorite team is not a determinant of victory.