AFF Cup Held In July, Indonesia Can Send The Best Squad

The Indonesian national team can play with the best team in the 2026 AFF Cup (VOI/Ferry Tri Adi Sasono).

JAKARTA The Indonesian National Team (Timnas) can send the best squad after the AFF Cup (ASEAN Championship) changes the schedule for holding tournaments from July to August from the 2026 edition.

The ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) announced a new schedule to mark the 30th anniversary of the biggest football tournament in Southeast Asia to be held since it was first held in 1996.

"We want to celebrate the legacy of this tournament with millions of ASEAN fans and our new partners," said AFF President Major General Khiev Sameth.

The implementation of the AFF Cup next year is the 16th edition and the total is attended by 11 countries. The official draw will be held next year, while the playoffs to determine the final slot of the group stage participants will take place on June 2-9, 2026.

The match for the group phase will take place from July 24 to August 8, 2026. Then it will continue to the knockout round which will be held from August 15 to 26.

This schedule change could actually provide benefits for the Indonesian national team, which could reduce the best composition because it was held to coincide with the international break.

In the previous edition, the AFF Cup was usually held from December to January, so it was difficult for the Indonesian national team to field the best squad because it collided with the competition season in Europe.

Therefore, European clubs who are undergoing a crucial period of the league are often reluctant to release Indonesian national team players.

Now, this new schedule coincides with the summer holiday in the majority of the European league, making it easier for PSSI to call all abroad players without significant obstacles.

So far, the Indonesian national team has never tasted the tournament title. The best journey of the Garuda squad there was five times to become runners-up.