Indonesia to face Thailand in FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 final
The Jakarta final is scheduled for 5 October, with Indonesia captain Kevin Diks urging his teammates to stay focused and control their emotions.
Indonesia and Thailand will contest the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 title at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Central Jakarta on 5 October 2026, with kick-off set for 20:00 WIB. Both teams qualified for the final by finishing first in their groups.
Indonesia collected seven points from three matches in Group A, matching runners-up Malaysia but taking top spot through superior goalscoring. Indonesia scored eleven goals and conceded twice, while Malaysia scored nine without conceding.
Thailand finished Group B with six points from three games. Victories over Pakistan and Vietnam were followed by a defeat against the Philippines, but Thailand remained ahead of Vietnam on their head-to-head record.
Speaking at a stadium press conference on 4 October, Indonesia coach John Herdman expressed enthusiasm about the final. He said his players had earned their place and had an opportunity to become the first men's team to lift a trophy for the country.
Captain Kevin Diks said he had drawn on his experience of finals when advising teammates. He stressed the need to manage emotions and maintain concentration for 100 minutes or longer, saying a single moment could decide a contest between two strong teams.
Thailand's Chanathip Songkrasin said his side wanted to make history by winning the inaugural edition. He added that beating Indonesia could strengthen confidence before the teams meet again in the Asian Cup group stage next year, and praised the physical and technical abilities of Indonesia's players.
