John Herdman Calls Vietnam the Best Test for the Indonesian National Team at the 2026 AFF Cup.

The Indonesia National Team is not intimidated by the heavy challenges ahead at the Hyundai Cup ASEAN Championship, or the 2026 AFF Cup. Head coach John Herdman welcomed the fixture against Vietnam positively, as this match will be used to benchmark the development of the Garuda squad.

Indonesia is placed in Group A alongside Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, and Timor Leste. Competition is confirmed to be tight, as Vietnam has completed far more mature preparations compared to the other participants.

Even so, Herdman stressed that his team does not feel burdened. According to the Canadian coach, facing high-calibre opponents is the best opportunity to measure the full extent of the team's abilities.

"We are very excited about this, this will be a great opponent to test the team's capabilities," stated John Herdman on Friday at the Bali United Training Center, Gianyar Regency, Bali.

Herdman assessed that Vietnam is the strongest candidate in Group A due to their advantage in squad continuity. The team nicknamed The Golden Star Warriors began their training camp on 22 June, giving them much longer time to prepare themselves.

Additionally, Vietnam has solid stability as they are led by a coach that has worked with the squad for a long period. The group understands each other's playing characteristics well, and also carry proven experience performing under pressure.

Beyond Vietnam, Herdman is also looking forward to the classic derby against Malaysia. He noted that matches against this regional rival always carry a one-of-a-kind atmosphere, and are among the most anticipated fixtures of the tournament.

"But we also want to challenge Malaysia, whenever Indonesia gets the opportunity to face Malaysia," he added.

Indonesia national team defender Rizky Ridho also recognises that Vietnam is one of the strongest opponents in the tournament. However, the Persija Jakarta player remains optimistic that Indonesia can put up a strong fight if they execute the strategy that has been prepared.

"Group A will not be easy, but we will try to perform at our best by following the coach's instructions, and we will give everything," he said.

Throughout the ongoing training camp, players have been assigned structured physical training sessions alongside ball control refinement drills, as part of preparations for the packed match schedule at the 2026 AFF Cup.

The 2026 Hyundai Cup ASEAN Championship will be held from 24 July to 26 August using a home and away format. Indonesia is scheduled to host Cambodia on 27 July, before facing Vietnam on 3 August.