The 2024 AFF Cup Kick-off Schedule Resigns, Becomes An Advantage For The Indonesian National Team

The Indonesian national team will compete in the 2024 AFF Cup (doc. PSSI).

JAKARTA - The 2024 AFF Cup schedule has withdrawn from its original agenda. As a result, this situation is quite profitable for the Indonesian national team who have longer preparation times.

Initially, the 2024 AFF Cup will start rolling from November 23 to December 21, 2024. However, quoted from the upload of @theaseanball on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, the kick-off event for the 2024 AFF Cup has withdrawn from its original plan.

The reason is to avoid clashes with Asian club tournament schedules, such as the 2024/2025 AFC Champions League Elite and AFC Champions League 2 2024/2025.

The reason is, on 25-27 November 2024 and 2-4 December 2024, the fifth matchday and sixth phase of the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/2025 group will be held.

Meanwhile, on 26-28 November 2024 and 3-5 December 2024, the fifth and sixth matchday of the 2024/2025 AFC Champions League 2 group phase will also take place.

Given that ASEAN clubs also took part in the two tournaments, AFF relented by delaying the 2024 AFF Cup kick-off schedule.

There are also risks that will occur. If the 2024 AFF Cup is still held according to the initial plan, it is feared that clubs will be reluctant to release players to their respective national teams. This is because the 2024 AFF Cup is not included in the FIFA agenda.

With a mature decision, AFF then chose to hold the 2024 AFF Cup match from 9 December 2024 to 5 January 2025.

The postponement of the schedule is in fact profitable for the Indonesian national team. You see, Shin Tae-yong has a longer time to prepare the team.

If you reflect on the existing schedule, on November 14 and 19, 2024, the Indonesian national team will still host Japan and Saudi Arabia on the fifth matchday and the sixth Group C of the Third Round of Asian Zone 2026 World Cup Qualification.

After hosting Saudi Arabia on November 19, 2024, Shin Tae-yong has about 20 days to finalize the Garuda Squad.

The coach will also field a different squad for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers and the 2024 AFF Cup.

The 2026 Asian Zone World Cup qualification contains top players, such as Thom Haye, Ragnar Oratmangoen, Jay Idzes, and many more.

As for the 2024 AFF Cup, the coach trusted the Under-23 players when they won the 2023 SEA Games or projected the 2025 SEA Games.

Schedule Of The Indonesian National Team In The 2024 AFF Cup

Myanmar vs Indonesian National Team

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

18.30 WIB

The Indonesian vs Laos national team

Friday, December 13, 2024

19.00 WIB

Vietnam vs Indonesian National Team

Monday, December 16, 2024

19.30 WIB

The Indonesian vs Philippines national team

Sunday, December 22, 2024

19.30 WIB