New AFC-OCA Regulations Shut Door on Indonesia U-23 in Football at 2026 Asian Games
Source: Antara Foto/NAY/person/focus
New regulations from the AFC and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) impact the Indonesia U-23 team. The Garuda Muda will be absent from the men's football competition at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Singapore's Straits Times reported that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and OCA have established new qualification criteria for men's and Women's Football at the 2026 Asian Games.
The regulations stipulate that only participants of the 2026 U-23 Asian Cup automatically qualify for the 2026 Asian Games.
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Per a Football Association of Singapore (FAS) press release on February 9, 2026, teams competing in January's 2026 U-23 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia secure direct qualification to the 2026 Asian Games.
This excludes Indonesia U-23 from the men's football event, having failed to qualify for the 2026 U-23 Asian Cup.
Their elimination occurred last September during qualifiers. Indonesia was drawn in Group J alongside South Korea U-23, Laos U-23, and Macau U-23.
As hosts, Gerald Vanenburg's Indonesia U-23 finished as group runners-up behind South Korea U-23.
Only group winners from Groups A to K advanced to the 2026 U-23 Asian Cup finals.
Previously, Asian Games football teams were registered by national Olympic committees without specific AFC qualification criteria.
The AFC now exercises full control, replacing the previous flexibility granted to national committees.
The Asian Games no longer operates as an open platform but serves as a direct extension of continental competition systems.
At the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, Indonesia U-23 reached the Round of 16 before losing 0-2 to Uzbekistan U-23 in extra time.
The 2026 Asian Games will run from September 19 to October 4, featuring 46 nations and 42 sports.
Indonesia will participate, but its men's football team—the nation's most popular sport—will be notably absent.
Ironically, initial projections suggested Indonesia U-23 would compete under new coach John Herdman at Asia's premier multi-sport event.
For the current U-23 generation, failing to top their qualifying group has triggered cascading consequences.
One September result has led to Indonesia's absence from the Asian Games stage a year later.
