🇳🇱 Patrick Kluivert (father) : Indonesia Head Coach.
🇳🇱 Justin Kluivert (son) : AFC Bournemouth Player.
🇳🇱 Shane Kluivert (son) : FC Barcelona U18 Player.
🇳🇱 Ruben Kluivert (son) : Casa Pia AC Player.
🇳🇱 Quincy Kluivert (son) : AVV Zeeburgia Player.
A football family. 😍
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| Indonesia and Vietnam will renew their rivalry at the upcoming 2024 ASEAN Championship, where both sides will be regarded among the favourites to advance from Group B. Minh Hoang/Getty Images |
If the next fortnight of Group B action at the 2024 ASEAN Championship feels a bit familiar, that is because it will be.
It was not too long ago that Indonesia, Vietnam and Philippines were all locking horns in the second round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup -- which concluded back in June.
On that occasion, it was Indonesia who prevailed as they finished second in Group F to follow Iraq onto the next round, leaving the other two to turn their attentions to qualifying for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
As fate would have, the trio all found themselves -- along with Myanmar and Laos -- drawn in Group B of the upcoming ASEAN Championship. Once again, only two can advance to the semifinals.
Based on recent form, Indonesia will be the favourites and it is easy for their supporters to get excited at the prospect that their time has finally come.
After all, despite being one of the region's traditional powerhouses, Indonesia have never tasted ASEAN Championship glory and instead have been the perennial bridesmaids with six runners-up finishes previously.
Nonetheless, given the tournament does not take place during an official FIFA international window, Merah Putih will be without the majority of their Europe-based contingent that has played a significant role in their recent rise.
Despite the obvious immediate gratification of ending a 28-year trophy wait, Indonesia coach Shin Tae-Yong previously hinted that he will use the tournament to prepare for next year's Southeast Asian Games -- where they will be looking to successfully defend a gold medal that was also several painful decades in the making.
His squad selection suggests as much.
With Shin making the final cut to his now 24-man squad on Friday, a staggering 16 players selected are yet to make their international bow.
In fact, only four have more than ten caps to their names with Indonesia's average age for the tournament just 20 years.
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| Indonesia's last meeting with Philippines was a 2-0 win back in June that sealed their place in the third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Robertus Pudyanto/Getty Images |
In a way, the youthful nature of the team mirrors that from the 2020 edition, when they first showed signs of promise following the appointment of Shin.
Asnawi Mangkualam and Pratama Arhan were both breakout stars from that campaign and will be the senior figures now despite their relative youth, while Marselino Ferdinan -- whose tournament bow came two years ago -- will undoubtedly be their main man in the attacking third.
Indonesia have plenty of raw potential yet, considering this is an experimental side, perhaps their wait to taste ASEAN Championship glory might go on for a while longer.
Maybe, then, it should be Vietnam who are viewed as the dominant force in Group B.
After finishing runners-up last time out, Vietnam look closest to full strength among all the competitors, especially with Thailand and Malaysia also missing key personnel in the other group.
Nguyễn Quang Hải, Nguyễn Văn Toàn, Nguyễn Tiến Linh and Đỗ Duy Mạnh are all seasoned campaigners that were part of the last Vietnam team to win the tournament in 2018.
For a period of time around then, the Vietnamese were well and truly Southeast Asia's top team.
Having since been overtaken by Thailand and now Indonesia, Vietnam will have no shortage of motivation to show they are not going anywhere over the next month.
Another team that will be eager to prove they are not on the decline are Philippines.
After reaching the last four in four out of five editions between 2010 and 2018, they have since failed to make it out of the group stage in their past two attempts.
Philippines are also the only ones that have a significant number of overseas-based players available, including Michael Kempter and Michael Baldisimo who play in the Swiss and American top flights respectively.
While Indonesia have emerged as the leading lights of Southeast Asia at the moment, the fact that they have opted to blood youth as well as the presence of a couple of hungry rivals means it is definitely up in the air as to whether their time to become champions is now.
- Gabriel Tan
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| The 2024 ASEAN Championship -- which kicks off on Dec. 8 -- will see familiar foes Malaysia and Singapore renew their traditional rivalry, with both drawn in Group A alongside defending champions Thailand, Cambodia and Timor-Leste. Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images |
On Tuesday, the lineup for the 2024 ASEAN Championship was set in stone.
With Timor-Leste securing a 1-0 aggregate triumph over Brunei Darussalam in the qualifying playoff, the ten teams that will contest Southeast Asia's premier international tournament at the end of the year has now been finalised.
Timor-Leste will slot into Group A, which is headlined by defending champions and record seven-time winners Thailand, while also consisting of Malaysia, Singapore and Cambodia.
Meanwhile, Group B is looking equally competitive with Indonesia and Vietnam -- the only two teams from the region to have reached the third stage of the Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup in the two most-recent editions -- leading the way, along with Philippines, Myanmar and Laos.
With the qualifying playoff coinciding with the recent international break, it means that all ten contenders were in action in their penultimate window to finalise preparations before the tournament kicks off on Dec. 8.
Here, we assess where each team stands at the moment with less than two months to go to kickoff.
CAMBODIA
After parting ways with Felix Dalmas last month, Cambodia played their first matches under Koji Gyotoku this past week -- a 3-2 win over Chinese Taipei followed by a 3-0 loss to Hong Kong.
Gyotoku, whose official title is "interim head coach" is no stranger to Cambodian football having been involved in the national youth setup since 2019, taking charge of the U-17, U-21 and U-23 teams at various stages.
In the win over Chinese Taipei, Min Ratanak and Sieng Chanthea provided the goals as the 22-year-olds continue to grow in influence in the team.
INDONESIA
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| Indonesia continue to give a good account of themselves in the third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but suffered a first defeat on Tuesday with a 2-1 loss to China. Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images |
As Southeast Asia's sole representatives in the third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, Indonesia were the only team -- other than Timor-Leste and Brunei -- to experience competitive action this window.
They continued their run of creditable results last Thursday although they were aggrieved over a late equaliser that saw Bahrain force a 2-2 draw, before suffering a first defeat of the campaign after being beaten 2-1 by China on Tuesday.
Indonesia continue to boosted by the constant influx of Europe-born players of local heritage, with Eredivisie duo Mees Hilgers and Eliano Reijnders the latest to make their international bows.
Although Merah Putih continue to give an excellent account of themselves against some of Asia's powerhouses, it remains to be seen how many of their overseas-based contingent will be available for the ASEAN Championship - which does not fall during an official FIFA international window.
It could leave coach Shin Tae-Yong needing to revert to his Indonesian born-and-bred players, who have served him so well in leading the team's initial resurgence when he arrived.
LAOS
Since being eliminated by Nepal in the first round of the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup, Laos have not played an official match -- a span which has now reached an entire year.
They are among the teams that have made a recent coaching change, with Ha Hyeok-Jun only appointed in August and tasked with both the senior and U-23 teams.
Laos spent the recent international break on a training camp in Thailand and changing of the guard could be on the cards, with 16 of the 30 players involved uncapped and only two -- Bounphachan Bounkong and Phoutthasay Khochalern -- boasting more than 20 international appearances to their names.
MALAYSIA
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| Malaysia's 4-0 loss to New Zealand -- captained by Premier League stalwart Chris Wood -- had the silver lining of a first senior cap for Selangor centre-back Harith Haiqal. DJ MILLS/AFP via Getty Images |
Malaysia played just one friendly this window -- a 4-0 loss to New Zealand that was hardly an embarrassing result considering the opponents had a notable number of Europe-based players at their disposal, including Premier League stalwart Chris Wood and Serie A man Liberato Cacace.
It did prompt coach Pau Marti -- who was thrusted into the role following the abrupt departure of Kim Pan-Gon -- to apologise for the result, although it must be remembered that his first two games at the helm last month included an impressive 1-0 triumph over Lebanon.
Marti did use the opportunity to hand a first cap to Selangor defender Harith Haiqal, and -- for now -- will have one final friendly to finetune his tactics for the ASEAN Championship when Harimau Malaya play India on Nov. 19.
MYANMAR
Myanmar's latest exploits saw them take on Sri Lanka in back-to-back home matches - which resulted in a 2-0 win and a 0-0 draw.
It was perhaps not the sternest of opposition as, even with Myanmar's lowly FIFA world ranking of 167th, Sri Lanka sit 33 places blow are the second lowest-ranked team in all of Asia - and the 11th-lowest in the world out of 210 teams in the classification.
Myanmar will get a better test of their credentials in November when they meet Singapore on Nov. 15. They were originally meant to face Lebanon four days later, although it remains to be seen if the latter will be available after they had to cancel their commitments this window.
PHILIPPINES
After a 3-0 loss to Thailand, Philippines bounced back to finish third in the King's Cup with a 3-0 victory over Tajikistan -- an impressive result considering the opposition had made a remarkable run to the quarterfinals of the AFC Asian Cup at the start of the year.
It marked new coach Albert Capellas' first matches in charge, after his predecessor Tom Saintfiet left the job just six months after being appointed.
Recent overseas-born additions during the short-lived Saintfiet era in Bjørn Martin Kristensen and Zico Bailey both netted their first international goals, while Bundesliga man Gerrit Holtmann was also on target.
Still, Holtmann is unlikely to be available for the ASEAN Championship - as could be the case with Philippines' nine other Europe-based players, which includes five of the six listed forwards in their latest squad.
SINGAPORE
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| Singapore tested themselves against formidable opposition in the form of five-time J1 League champions Yokohama F. Marinos -- who fielded a starting XI entirely comprising players involved in the first team setup. Football Association of Singapore |
For the second consecutive window, Singapore did not play any international friendlies but instead focused on centralised training -- this time in Japan, where they took on three J1 League clubs in practice matches.
A 2-1 victory over Tokyo Verdy was sandwiched by 4-0 and 7-1 losses to FC Tokyo and Yokohama F. Marinos respectively, but it is worth mentioning that all three clubs fielded teams with considerable first-team experience.
In particular, five-time J1 League champions Marinos had a starting XI which boasted ex-Japan internationals Kota Mizunuma and Kazuya Yamamura, as well as Brazilian import Eduardo, while Singapore coach Tsutomu Ogura opted to use this clash to blood a plethora of young prospects.
The Lions will finally get some international exposure next month when they entertain Myanmar and Chinese Taipei on Nov. 15 and 19 respectively.
THAILAND
In the landmark 50th edition of the King's Cup, Thailand did disappoint as they won their own annual friendly tournament for the first time since 2017 with an impressive 2-1 win over Syria.
Before the decider, they had beaten Philippines 3-1 in the semifinals as Suphanat Mueanta -- with a brace -- continued his hot run of form with four goals in three international outings before he was kept at bay by the Syrians.
Talismanic playmaker Chanathip Songkrasin also netted in both matches, while there was a first cap for rising Muangthong United star Kakana Khamyok, who started against Philippines.
It is believed that the reigning ASEAN champions will finish their tournament warm-up with friendlies against Lebanon and Yemen in November.
TIMOR-LESTE
The only team featuring at the ASEAN Championship that had to earn this place at the tournament, Timor-Leste's quest began well as they beat Brunei 1-0 in the first leg courtesy of a Gali Freitas winner.
Although they were unable to do the same in the return encounter, a 0-0 draw was still enough to secure a return to the competition after they surprisingly missed out in 2022.
VIETNAM
Vietnam's planned preparations for this window were hampered by Lebanon's withdrawal from a triangular tournament due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
It meant they had just one game to play -- a 1-1 draw with India which saw captain Que Ngoc Hai denied from the penalty spot, although there was a first senior goal for 21-year-old Bùi Vĩ Hào -- one of their standouts at this year's AFC U-23 Asian Cup.
After winning his first game in charge - a 3-2 win World Cup qualifying win over Philippines on June 6 which ended an eight-match losing streak, Kim Sang-Sik is now on his own mini-poor run of form with three losses and a draw from Vietnam's past four outings.
- Gabriel Tan
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| Rafael Struick, 21, has joined Brisbane Roar from Dutch club ADO Den Haag. Angelo Blankespoor/Soccrates/Getty Images |
The Brisbane Roar will be banking on similar on-field impact from Indonesia striker Rafael Struick after his signing sent the A-League club's social media following soaring.
The 21-year-old, who led Indonesia's line in their country's scoreless World Cup qualification draw with the Socceroos in Jakarta last week, was confirmed as the Roar's latest acquisition on Monday night.
In less than 24 hours the club's Instagram following has swelled from 69,000 to almost 100,000, a rise attributed to the fanatical Indonesian support base.
The post announcing Struick's arrival dwarfed the engagements garnered by posts confirming high-profile pair Juan Mata and Douglas Costa to the Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC respectively.
"I'm happy to be here and I can't wait to get started," Struick said. "Brisbane is a very big club, playing in a very strong competition.
"I'm excited to play in the A-League and make this move to the other side of the world to make a step outside of my comfort zone.
"I want to help the team as much as possible with my qualities; to score goals and provide assists."
Struick scored a double, including the goal of the tournament, for Indonesia in this year's under-23 Asian Cup quarterfinal victory over South Korea. They reached the semifinals of a campaign that included a win against Australia.
The Netherlands-born talent, eligible for Indonesia through his Javanese grandmother, has made 14 appearances for the country's senior team, coached by former Roar player Shin Tae-Yong.
Struick honed his trade in the Dutch youth system and has played for ADO Den Haag in the Netherlands' second tier since 2022.
The Roar's A-League Men's season begins against Auckland FC on Oct. 19.
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As he made his international bow as part of an underdog outfit in the daunting cauldron that is Jeddah's 62,345-capacity King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Maarten Paes would have been fearing the worst as the Asian qualifier for the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia approached its climax.
With 13 minutes remaining in Thursday's Group C tie and the scores tied at 1-1, there appeared to be little danger as Paes -- who was only cleared to represent Indonesia a fortnight after representing Netherlands at age-group level -- received a backpass inside his own area and began to assess the options ahead of him.
Failing to see anything he immediately fancied, he held on to possession for a while longer -- and that is when calamity ensued for the FC Dallas goalkeeper.
In a blink of an eye, Saudi Arabia striker Firas Al-Buraikan had not only closed him down but made full use of his lanky frame to nip in and win possession.
With a half-reflex, half-desperate attempt, Paes swung out a leg of his own only to hack Al-Buraikan down and concede a penalty.
In his debut for Indonesia, who he qualified to play for through his grandmother, the 26-year-old appeared destined to play the role of villain -- the culprit behind an inevitable defeat against far more illustrious opposition on an evening that had started promisingly for the plucky Indonesians.
For Indonesia, sitting 133rd on the world rankings and 77 places below Saudi Arabia, were never expected to get anything out of Thursday's contest and yet, remarkably, found themselves ahead after 19 minutes when Ragnar Oratmangoen's speculative effort ricocheted off teammate Sandy Walsh before finding the back of the linknet.
Somehow, Indonesia were leading -- away to Saudi Arabia, who famously pulled off a 2-1 win over eventual champions Argentina at the last World Cup.
The hosts were always going to issue a response yet, even when they did equalise just before halftime with a deflected strike of their own via Musab Al-Juwayr, Indonesia were still on course for a memorable draw.
The fact that it seemed as though it was going to be an individual error, rather than a moment of quality from the opponents, that would snatch the result from their grasp would have made for a bitter pill to swallow.
An individual error from a foreign-born player with excellent credentials, who Indonesian fans would have imagined would be coming into the team to help win games rather than lose them.
Paes, however, had other ideas.
Stepping up to take the penalty Paes had conceded was Saudi Arabia's talismanic captain Salem Al-Dawsari, the continent's Player of the Year in 2022 who had scored in that stunning triumph over Argentina.
Up till that point, Al-Dawsari had been the Green Falcons' best player and was the one who initially sparked them when they had fallen behind.
If there was anyone who was going to handle the pressure, it would be the Al Hilal man.
But in spite of Al-Dawsari's stuttering run-up, with a brief but deliberate pause that usually does the trick with most goalkeepers, Paes refused to commit.
He stood tall -- almost as if he was welcoming the mind games -- and, ultimately, would be the one to produce the clutch moment as he eventually threw his body to the left to make the save when Al-Dawsari had finally decided to fire a shot away.
Having gone from villain to hero, Paes would then elevate himself to saviour status with another brilliant stop in injury-time to deny Al-Buraikan one-on-one as Indonesia, in the end, did come away with a draw that will live long in the memory.
And despite the desperate manner in which they achieved it, Indonesia were arguably good value for the result.
- Gabriel Tan
For a region brimming with age-old rivalries between geographical neighbours, it almost seems a given that a club competition would thrive in Southeast Asia.
Yet, for the last 20 years, that has failed to materialise for a variety of reasons.
But all that will change starting this week when the ASEAN Club Championship -- officially known as the Shopee Cup due to sponsorship reasons -- kicks off on Wednesday.
Wondering what there is to look forward to? Here is all you need to know.
Is this the first time such a tournament is being held?
Not exactly. The inaugural ASEAN Club Championship -- organised by the ASEAN Football Federation -- was held in 2003 as was originally planned as a biennial competition.
A second edition took place in 2005 before the tournament was indefinitely removed from the Southeast Asian football calendar.
Why was the tournament cancelled originally?
Several factors were in play but, primarily, this was a time when was still a lack of synergy in the schedules of the various domestic leagues -- as well as within the larger footballing ecosystem in Asia.
The Asian Football Confederation's club competitions remains the highest-level tournaments in the continent, and there were conflicting calendars.
This was also a time when several nations were revamping their own leagues and focus was on finding stable footing domestically, rather than commit to additional competition.
One example came in 2005 when Indonesia opted against sending representatives while developing nations such as Philippines and Laos also pulled out presumably due to financial reasons.
A failure to gain traction -- and a subsequent inability to attract a viable number of sponsors -- led to the tournament's demise.
Who has won the ASEAN Club Championship previously?
While the competition is meant to be contested by clubs from Southeast Asia, it was an invited team who were the inaugural champions as India's East Bengal claimed the title in 2003 on the back of an inspired nine-goal haul from national hero Baichung Bhutia.
Although they finished second in their group, East Bengal would account for Indonesian duo Persita Tangerang and the now-defunct Petrokimia Putra come the knockout round before exacting revenge on BEC Tero Sasana (now Police Tero) in a rematch in the final.
Two years later, Singapore's BG Tampines Rovers -- during one of the club's more successful eras -- claimed the crown after coming from behind to record a thrilling 4-2 win over Sri Pahang in the final.
Why is the ASEAN Club Championship returning -- and only now?
Plans for the return of an ASEAN club competition were mooted as early as 2012 but, originally, the concept was a breakaway tournament -- the ASEAN Super League -- that did not receive unanimous support in fear it would have a negative impact on domestic leagues that were already faring well.
But in 2019, after receiving endorsement from both the AFC and FIFA, it was announced that the ASEAN Club Championship would return in 2020.
Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic meant that tournament had to be put on hiatus before it was ultimately given the green light to go ahead this year.
What will the schedule be like?
As with continental club football, the ASEAN Club Championship will take place in midweek with weekends usually reserved for domestic games.
With many leagues in the region now shifting to an August-to-May season, the ASEAN Club Championship will likewise take place across two calendar years.
Two match days of the group stage will be played in 2024 before competition resumes next year.
Only the top two from each group advance to the semifinals, before play culminates in a two-legged final to be held next May.
Will every nation be represented?
Almost every Southeast Asian nation will compete in some shape or form although the current format saw four lower-ranked AFF member associations vie for one spot in the qualifying playoffs -- which saw Young Elephants (Laos) and Kasuka (Brunei Darussalam) eliminated.
Timor-Leste opted not to enter, as was the case with Australia -- who have been part of the AFF since 2013 after becoming a member of the AFC in 2006.
While the idea is each nation to be represented by their top teams, some clubs like Malaysia Super League giants Johor Darul Ta'zim, current Singapore Premier League champions Albirex Niigata (S) and Liga 1 runners-up Persija Jakarta either declined to participated or were ineligible.
The 2024-25 ASEAN Club Championship will thus feature PSM Makassar and Borneo Samarinda (Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur City and Terengganu (Malaysia), Buriram United and BG Pathum United (Thailand), Cong An Ha Noi and Dong A Thanh Hoa (Vietnam), Lion City Sailors (Singapore), Kaya FC-Iloilo (Philippines), Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng (Cambodia) and Shan United (Myanmar).
Can the tournament succeed where it previously failed?
Football in Southeast Asia has evolved drastically since 2005.
Domestic competitions are now stable, with some even thriving, and nations such as Thailand and Malaysia have also achieved impressive results on the bigger stage that is the AFC Champions League.
The constant buzz generated when the international ASEAN Championship comes around every two years also suggests that there is an appetite for further regional rivalries -- although only time will tell if this can be replicated at club level.
Most importantly is the fact that the ASEAN Club Championship has managed to fit seamlessly into the calendar, without clashing with either the domestic or AFC competitions.
For teams like Buriram, Lion City Sailors and Kaya who will be competing in the also newly-revamped AFC Champions League Elite and AFC Champions League Two, it will be intriguing to see how they juggle multiple competitions involving travel -- especially at a time when there is increased attention on the increasing workload of footballers.
If the new season of the ASEAN Club Championship proves it can be complementary -- and not conflicting -- subsequently gaining the buy-in of teams such as JDT will only help the long-term sustainability of the competition.
In any case, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic -- and be excited -- about the international club competition in Southeast Asia.
- Gabriel Tan
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| Indonesia are through to the third and final round of Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup for the first time after sealing a top-two finish in Group F with Tuesday's 2-0 victory over Philippines. BAY ISMOYO/AFP via Getty Images |
Another box ticked, another achievement unlocked.
As Indonesia continue to go from strength to strength under Shin Tae-Yong, their latest accomplishment is arguably their most significant yet.
On Tuesday, with a 2-0 win over Philippines, the Indonesians went through to the third and final round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
They have never before got this far, although they did feature at the 1938 World Cup as the Dutch East Indies -- nearing a century ago when qualification for football's biggest stage was a far-less drawn out process.
In fact, only two Asian teams were in the running back then and, even so, the Dutch East Indies qualified automatically after Japan withdrew.
This time, even just to get to the third round of the Asian qualifiers, Indonesia have had been made to work far more.
In fact, Indonesia were one of the lower-ranked nations that actually began their campaign in the first round last October -- where they comfortably cruised through with a 12-0 aggregate victory over Brunei Darussalam.
Come the second round, the luck of the draw did lend a helping hand to the Indonesians.
While the clear favourites in Group F were Iraq, the fact that Indonesia were also pitted against familiar foes in Vietnam and Philippines meant they always had a chance.
Matches among these Southeast Asian teams are often close contests and, while Vietnam was the region's leading light the last time out -- being the only ASEAN outfit to make the third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup -- the gap has closed significantly.
In comparision, other Southeast Asian hopefuls like Thailand and Singapore always faced a tougher path to progress coming up against traditional powerhouses South Korea and China, while Myanmar were as good as out from the moment they were handed their fate of Japan, Syria and North Korea.
But, for Indonesia, progress was a realistic aim.
In the end, it boiled down to back-to-back ties against Vietnam in March, where Indonesia would prevail 1-0 and 3-0 respectively -- results which would ultimately go a long way in seeing them finish four points clear of their opponents in second place in the group.
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| Indonesia's quest to reach the next round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup gathered steam in March when they claimed back-to-back wins over Vietnam, which ultimately proved crucial in the final four-point lead over their opponents. Minh Hoang/Getty Images |
Thus continues Indonesia's rise since Shin took over at the helm at the end of 2019.
Earlier this year, they returned to the AFC Asian Cup for the first time since 2007 and achieved a maiden knockout round appearance.
Back in April, the U-23 team - also under Shin - remarkably finished fourth in their AFC U-23 Asian Cup debut and then narrowly missed out on Olympic qualification after losing a intercontinental playoff against Guinea.
Last year, the U23s had already claimed the Southeast Asian Games gold medal for the first time since the men's football competition transitioned from a senior to age-group tournament.
Come the end of 2024, Indonesia could even have more joy as they look a genuine chance to win a maiden ASEAN Championship crown following the previous heartbreak of six runners-up finishes.
Of course, the biggest dream remains qualifying for the World Cup.
Indonesia will be under no illusions -- that goal, for now, is closer to being a dream rather than a distinct possibility.
They will face far tougher tests in the third round of Asian qualifiers. Even if there are now eight automatic spots on offer following the World Cup's expansion to 48 teams, a dozen or so teams loom as likelier contenders -- even if usual suspects like Japan, South Korea and Iran are removed from the equation.
Progress, however, can come in many forms. Not solely with reaching the next World Cup as the be all and end all.
Competitive displays against superior opposition could also be the yardstick.
The fact of the matter remains that, having already gotten this far and for all they have shown in recent times, Indonesia are -- well and truly -- firmly on the rise.
- Gabriel Tan
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| China goalkeeper Wang Dalei reacts after conceding a goal to South Korea in World Cup qualifying. Getty Images |
China squeezed into the third round of Asia's preliminaries for the 2026 World Cup by the narrowest of margins on Tuesday despite slipping to a 1-0 loss at the hands of South Korea in Seoul.
Indonesia, North Korea, Kuwait and Kyrgyzstan also confirmed their progress to the next round with the Chinese qualifying as runners-up in Group C behind the South Koreans after Thailand could only register a 3-1 victory over Singapore.
Needing to win by three clear goals, or to score at least four with a two-goal victory margin to climb above the Chinese in the standings, Masatada Ishii's side fell agonisingly short of a spot in the draw for the next round on June 27.
Suphanat Mueanta put Thailand in front eight minutes before the break but Thailand-based forward Ikhsan Fandi levelled 12 minutes after the restart for the Singaporeans.
A frantic Thailand pushed forward as time ticked down with Poramet Arjvirai and Jaroensak Wonggorn scoring in the last 11 minutes to take their side closer to their target, but ultimately the War Elephants fell short.
The Chinese had earlier lost in Seoul World Cup Stadium when Paris Saint-Germain winger Lee Kang-in scored from close range in the 61st minute to leave Branko Ivankovic and his players sweating on the outcome of the game in Bangkok.
Indonesia, meanwhile, confirmed their progress to the third round for the first time with a comfortable 2-0 win in Group F over the Philippines at a buoyant Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.
Netherlands-born midfielder Thom Haye put the home side in front 32 minutes into the game when he bent a perfectly judged right foot shot into the top corner of Kevin Mendoza's goal.
The victory was secured through a glanced header by Rizky Ridho in the 56th minute that gave the unprotected Mendoza little chance as Indonesia confirmed a second-place finish behind already-qualified Iraq.
Japan cruised to a 5-0 win over Syria in Hiroshima that fatally damaged the hopes of Hector Cuper's side, who were overtaken in Group B by North Korea as a result of Ri Jo Guk's hat-trick in a 4-1 win over Myanmar in Vientiane.
Kuwait finished second in Group A when Eid Al-Rashidi scored in the 81st minute to hand Afghanistan a 1-0 loss, with the Gulf state taking the runners-up spot behind Asian champions Qatar, who ended India's hopes with a 2-1 win in Al-Rayyan.
Kyrgyzstan confirmed their progress with a 1-1 draw with Group D winners Oman, who had already sealed their spot in the third round as Eldiyar Zarypbekov saw his 19th minute opener cancelled out by Abdul Aziz Khalfan's deflected strike.
The draw for the next round will feature 18 nations, including regular World Cup qualifiers Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran and Saudi Arabia, who had all secured their berths ahead of Tuesday's group matches.
Uzbekistan, Jordan, Bahrain and Palestine have also qualified for the third phase, which will see teams compete for six of the continent's eight guaranteed spots in the finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
- Reuters
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| Despite losing their last two outings against Oman, Malaysia still stand a chance of reaching the third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup -- having previously won their opening two ties against Kyrgyz Republic and Chinese Taipei. How Foo Yeen/Getty Images |
As the second round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup reaches its penultimate match day on Thursday, things are certainly going down to the wire -- especially for the competition's Southeast Asian hopefuls.
All seven of the region's representatives still have a chance of progressing to the next stage and keeping their World Cup dream alive, although some have more legitimate prospects than others.
Here, we take a look at where each of them stand and what they must do in order to advance.
MYANMAR
Bottom of Group B with just one point to their names, Myanmar are still mathematically capable of finishing inside the top two but, based on what they have served up so far, they are the least likely suspects from all of ASEAN's contenders.
The only time they have avoided defeated so far was a remarkable 1-1 draw against Syria, although the fact that they currently have a negative goal difference of 17 highlights the gulf in class between them and the rest of the group.
Myanmar have it all to do -- even on home soil -- against powerhouses Japan on Thursday, before finishing their campaign against a North Korea outfit that is also currently outside the qualification zone and in desperate need of points.
THAILAND
Finding themselves in what has proven to be one of the trickiest groups of the campaign, Thailand currently sit three points behind second-placed China -- who they visit on Thursday in what should be a pivotal tie.
It was a 2-1 loss in their previous clash last November -- a game in which the Thais could, and perhaps should, have won -- that ultimately sealed the fate of former coach Alexandre Polking, even if he was only dismissed after the following match.
Should Thailand be able to pull off an upset, it would put them in a promising position given they finish up against Group C's bottom side Singapore while the Chinese have to play away to heavily-fancied South Korea.
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| Both Thailand and Singapore can still qualify from Group D of the second round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup -- although the former stand a better chance as they sit just three points adrift of second-placed China. Suhaimi Abdullah/NurPhoto via Getty Images |
SINGAPORE
Like Myanmar, Singapore are yet to be eliminated despite picking up just a solitary point thus far.
But with South Korea being their next immediate assignment on Thursday, the Lions could soon be turning their attentions elsewhere -- especially given they were beaten 5-0 by the same opposition in the reverse encounter.
Singapore then finish up against Thailand next Tuesday, which should offer plenty of incentive regardless of their qualification status -- given their regional rivalry and the fact that both sides have been drawn to meet again at the end of the year in the ASEAN Championship.
MALAYSIA
A campaign that started so bright has now hit a few bumps but Malaysia remain very much in with a shout of progressing to the third round of Asian World Cup qualifiers.
Despite losing their past two Group D games to Oman, Harimau Malaya will now finish up against Kyrgyz Republic and Chinese Taipei -- the two teams they beat previously when they opened their campaign in flawless fashion.
Three points off the pace at the moment, Malaysia will be heavy favourites in next Tuesday's home game against already-eliminated Chinese Taipei -- meaning they would take a huge step towards progressing should they be able to overcome Kyrgyz Republic on Thursday.
INDONESIA
In a Group F that boasts three Southeast Asian hopefuls, it is Indonesia who are currently in pole position to join the already-qualified Iraq in the next round.
Four points ahead of Vietnam in second place, the Indonesians do have a tough test on Thursday against the Iraqis but their recent displays against more-fancied opposition -- coupled with home advantage at the intimidating Gelora Bung Karno Stadium -- will see them believing in their chances of a shock result.
Even if they do lose, Indonesia can guarantee their spot in the next stage as long as they beat Philippines in their final second-round tie next week.
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| Indonesia head into the final two games of their second-round campaign in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup knowing that a solitary win would be enough to see them finish second in Group F ahead of Vietnam and Philippines. EPA/LUONG THAI LINH |
VIETNAM
For a side that did so well to reach the third round of Asian World Cup qualifiers last time out, Vietnam are now at real risk of missing out.
Thursday's home game against Philippines offers a real opportunity to close the gap between them and second-placed Indonesia to just one point -- and it is a game they are expected to pick up maximum points in.
Nonetheless, they face the toughest final-day assignment of the lot in an away trip to Iraq, meaning they might have just left themselves with too much to do at the end.
PHILIPPINES
Bottom of Group F with just one point picked up so far, Philippines -- along with Myanmar and Singapore -- look the least likely to march on.
They have however played both ties against leaders Iraq, meaning they face slightly less-daunting ties against Vietnam and Indonesia over the next six days.
Philippines will still head into those games as the underdogs but the familiarity with those two teams, as well as the additional regional rivals factor, means that anything is possible.
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| The 2024 edition of the ASEAN Championship will once again see fierce rivals Malaysia and Singapore lock horns -- with the two having also met two years ago when the former emerged emphatic 4-1 victors. Wong Fok Loy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images |
Some recent rivalries -- as well as those of a more historical nature -- will be renewed at the end of this year after Tuesday's draw for the 2024 ASEAN Championship pitted some familiar foes against one another.
All four semifinalists from 2022 will not have to wait as long to lock horns again with their last-four opponents from the previous edition -- after defending champions Thailand were drawn in Group A alongside Malaysia while Vietnam, runners-up from two years ago, are likely to be vying with Indonesia for top spot in Group B.
While not archenemies in the traditional or geographical sense, familiarity has certainly bred contempt with Vietnam and Indonesia sharing an increasingly fierce rivalry after several battles in recent times, both at senior and youth level.
Both teams are also currently in the same group in the second round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup along with Philippines, who have interestingly enough also been drawn in Group B of this year's ASEAN Championship along with Myanmar and Laos.
With two more fixtures to be played before the second round of Asian World Cup qualifying concludes, Philippines will still meet both Vietnam and Indonesia on that front next month -- on June 6 and 11 respectively -- as precursors of what will follow later this year.
But from a more historical perspective, few rivalries in Southeast Asian football come bigger than that of Malaysia and Singapore and the Causeway derby will once again take place in 2024 with the latter also drawn in Group A on Tuesday.
It means that both teams will meet in the group stage of the ASEAN Championship for a second consecutive tournament, with Malaysia claiming the bragging rights last time around following an emphatic 4-1 rout of their neighbours.
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| An unusually frequent amount of meetings across various tournaments -- including in the semifinals of the last ASEAN Championship -- has resulted in a growing rivalry between Indonesia and Vietnam. NHAC NGUYEN/AFP via Getty Images |
Singapore and Thailand are also no strangers given they are both in the same group in the Asian World Cup qualifiers and will meet in that campaign once more on June 11 at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.
Rounding off Group A are Cambodia and the yet-to-be-determined winner of the qualification round, which will be either Brunei Darussalam or Timor-Leste.
Although the Timorese had qualified for back-to-back editions since the ASEAN Championship expanded to a ten-team tournament in 2018, they missed out in 2022 after being stunned in qualifying by Brunei -- who in turn returned to the region's premier international competition for the first time since its inception in 1996.
The Bruneians will host the first leg on Sept. 7 before the return encounter takes place seven days later in Timor-Leste.
Once the group-stage lineup is completed then, teams will have just over two months to finalise their preparations for the 2024 ASEAN Championship -- with the tournament slated to kick off on Nov. 23 and running through to Dec. 21.
2024 ASEAN CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW
Group A
Thailand
Malaysia
Singapore
Cambodia
Qualification winner (Brunei Darussalam or Timor-Leste)
Group B
Vietnam
Indonesia
Philippines
Myanmar
Laos
- Gabriel Tan
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| Mao Hosoya scored the opener and Japan never looked back in beating Iraq in the Asian Cup semifinals. Karim Jaafar/AFP via Getty Images |
Uzbekistan and Japan secured two of Asia's three berths at this year's Olympic Games football tournament with wins over Indonesia and Iraq respectively at the Under-23 Asian Cup in Qatar.
Uzbekistan sealed a 2-0 semifinal win against the Indonesians to confirm their first appearance at the Games since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Husain Norchaev put Timur Kapadze's side in front with a volleyed finish from close range in the 68th minute before Pratama Arhan's late own goal confirmed Uzbekistan's progress to both the Olympics and the Under-23 Asian Cup final.
They will next take on a Japan side that handed Iraq a 2-0 defeat at Doha's Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, with Mao Hosoya and Ryotaro Araki scoring in the 28th and 42nd minutes respectively.
That win means Japan maintain their record of qualifying for every Olympics since 1996.
Uzbekistan, winners of the Asian Under-23 title in 2018, will face Japan on Friday in the final, while Indonesia and Iraq meet on Thursday for Asia's third confirmed berth in Paris.
The losers of that Olympic playoff will enter into a final eliminator against Guinea, the fourth place finisher in Africa's qualifying tournament, on May 9 for the final spot at the Games.
- Reuters
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| Indonesia have continued their dream AFC U-23 Asian Cup debut by reaching the semifinals after seeing off South Korea with an exhilarating 11-10 penalty shootout triumph following a 2-2 extra-time draw between both teams. Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images |
It was always going to be something quite special if Indonesia were to keep their dream AFC U-23 Asian Cup debut going, especially coming up against continental powerhouses South Korea in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
And so it proved to be the case.
With equal doses of footballing quality, tension, excitement and drama, Indonesia and South Korea served up something truly special.
After both teams could not be separated -- with a 2-2 draw the final score after 120 minutes-- they then combined for a marathon penalty shootout which saw a total of 24 efforts.
In the end, a shootout which lasted almost as long as the 30 minutes of extra-time would be won by Indonesia.
11-10, with both goalkeepers required to step up to the spot against one another, before the first couple of takers went around again.
While the result, on paper, is undeniably a massive upset, the actual contest was anything but a one-sided contest.
If anything, Indonesia probably should have sealed the win inside 90 minutes, especially after the South Koreans were reduced to ten men in the 70th minute after substitute Lee Young-Jun was given a straight red upon VAR review for planting his studs on the ankle of Ivar Jenner.
They certainly had been excellent value up to that point having showed no signs of being overawed by the occasion or the opposition standing in their way, even taking the lead after 15 minutes when Rafael Struick produced a stunning effort from the edge of the box to send a swerving effort into the top corner.
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| The AFC U-23 Asian Cup quarterfinal between South Korea and Indonesia really turned in favour of the latter when Lee Young-Jun was sent off for the opposition, although they were already leading 2-1 at that stage. Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images |
Indonesia were slightly unfortunate to concede an equaliser in the 45th minute when Eom Ji-Sung's attempt to send a header back across the box saw the ball ricochet off the head Indonesia defender Komang Teguh and past his own keeper Ernando Ari.
Refusing to be deterred, the Indonesians would reclaim the lead even before the break when Struick - in inspired form - capitalised on some hesitant defending to pounce on a loose ball inside the area and finish past Baek Jong-Bum.
Yet somehow, with a 2-1 lead and then the numerical advantage as well after Lee's dismissal, Indonesia went into their shells.
Part of that would be down to the fact that the South Koreans were now adopting a more conservative approach while looking to hit on the counterattack but, while they were now harder to break down, Indonesia also looked to take their foot off the pedal.
They still created enough chances -- and spurned several -- so it was only natural that they would be hit by a sucker punch with six minutes remaining, when they were carved apart by an electric counterattack that was neatly finished off by Jeong Sang-Bin.
With extra-time following, the Indonesians again looked tentative right until the final stages. As their renewed urgency failed to reap reward, it was then down to the shootout.
Of course, more drama was to follow.
At one stage, it looked as though only the five regulation penalties from each team would be required.
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| Indonesia can now dream of featuring in the men's football tournament at this year's Olympic Games as they are -- at the very least -- guaranteed a playoff against Guinea. Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images |
The South Koreans certainly though they had prevailed when goalkeeper Baek kept out the opposition's fifth effort from Justin Hubner.
But he was adjudged to have failed to keep the prerequisite one football on the goal-line, leading to a retake and a reprieve for Hubner as he got it right from 12 yards second time around.
Immediately after, Ernando saved from Kang Sang-Yoon to put Indonesia on the brink of the semis -- only for Arkhan Fikri to fire wide when the chance to become the hero was in his grasp.
The shootout would go on -- and on and on it went.
Until the 23rd spot-kick of a seemingly endless tie, when Ernando produced a second fine stop to deny Lee Kang-Hee.
Where Arkhan had failed to capitalise, Pratama Arhan made no mistake in putting his name in lights.
Somehow, Indonesia had done brilliantly to look a real chance of causing a massive upset in regulation time.
Then, somehow again, they really had to dig deep to do so by prevailing in thrilling fashion.
If the magnitude of the feat was not clear enough yet, this is their U-23 Asian Cup debut. And in South Korea, they have defeated a team that have qualified for the men's football tournament at the past nine Olympic Games dating back to 1988.
South Korea will not be in Paris this year. They had to reach the last four of the U-23 Asian Cup in order to stand a chance.
In quite incredible fashion, it is Indonesia who now have that opportunity.
- Gabriel Tan
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| With back-to-back wins against Vietnam over the past six days, Indonesia are now firmly on course to qualify for the third round of Asian qualiifers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. EPA/LUONG THAI LINH |
As most of Southeast Asia's representatives in the second round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup tasted defeat on Tuesday, one team not only managed to pick up a crucial win -- but also issued a statement of intent in doing so.
Indonesia, who only in the previous edition finished bottom of their group with a solitary point to their names from eight outings, are now firmly in contention to march on to the next stage after completing the double over regional rivals Vietnam in the span of six days.
It must be noted that, while their earlier 1-0 triumph last Thursday came on home soil, this most recent victory came in the hostile setting of Hanoi's My Dinh National Stadium -- and it was an even more emphatic display as the Indonesians won 3-0, a result which also led to Vietnam's immediate dismissal of coach Philippe Troussier.
Merah Putih were sent on their way via first-half goals by Jay Idzes and Ragnar Oratmangoen -- both born in Netherlands but of Indonesian heritage who only made their international bow this window -- before a late goal from rising star Ramadhan Sananta sealed the comprehensive win.
The result means Indonesia now sit comfortably in second place in Group F, five points behind runaway leaders Iraq but with a handy four-point buffer between them and Vietnam.
Even if the Indonesians do lose their next game against Iraq on June 6, their fate remains in their own hands and victory over bottom side Philippines in their campaign finale would be enough to seal progress to the next stage of qualifying for the World Cup, as well as an automatic berth at the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
This latest pair of victories only further illustrates the steady rise they have been making under South Korean coach Shin Tae-Yong, who -- when he was appointed at the start of 2020 -- was widely seen as taking over a nation brimming with potential but with an uncanny habit of underperforming when it mattered most.
Prior to the start of this year, Indonesia had gone six games without a win against Vietnam dating back to 2016 but have now claimed three wins on the trot over their ASEAN counterparts.
The first of those back in January was a crucial result that saw them reach the Asian Cup knockout round for the first time ever.
Apart from that achievement, Indonesia have also reached the last four of the AFF Championship twice, won a first Southeast Asian Games gold medal since the men's football competition became an age-group tournament, and made the last 16 of the Asian Games.
Indonesia still have more to do before they can claim to be the top dogs of the region, but they certainly look to have the best chance of reaching the next stage of Asian qualifiers -- especially after an overall disappointing evening for Southeast Asian football on Tuesday.
Thailand, who have been widely regarded as the best ASEAN team alongside Vietnam in recent times, fell 3-0 at home to South Korea, while Singapore were unable to build on an impressive 2-2 draw with China last week as they lost to the same opposition 4-1 -- even if they did produce another encouraging display under new coach Tsutomu Ogura.
Lying third and fourth in Group C respectively, both are out of the reckoning for World Cup qualification as thing stand.
Meanwhile, after a bright start that saw them beat both Kyrgyz Republic and Chinese Taipei, back-to-back 2-0 losses to Oman -- while hardly embarrassing results -- mean Malaysia have slid to third spot in Group D.
Elsewhere, a real gulf in class was evident as Philippines were beaten 5-0 by Iraq, while Myanmar suffered a 7-0 thrashing at the hands of Syria.
Again, both those heavy losses came against undeniably strong opposition but the margins of defeat do not paint a pretty picture for Southeast Asia.
On an evening to forget for the region, Indonesia deserve credit for the statement they delivered -- even if it did come against one of their own.
- Gabriel Tan
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| South Korea's surprise runners-up finish in Group E means they now face a daunting clash with fellow powerhouses Saudi Arabia in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup round of 16. Lintao Zhang/Getty Images |
In the blink of an eye, the 2023 AFC Asian Cup is now down to the knockout round.
Two weeks of riveting group-stage action has delivered a last 16 with plenty of usual suspects but also a handful of surprise high-fliers.
There will be no more second chances with teams needing to win four matches on the trot from now till Feb. 10 if they are to be crowned champions of Asia.
Here, we look ahead at the storylines each round of 16 tie has produced.
Australia vs. Indonesia (Jan. 28)
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| Appearing at the AFC Asian Cup for the first time since 2007, Indonesia were the final team to scrape through to the round of 16 but face a massive test in the form of Australia on Sunday. KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images |
A real David vs. Goliath clash if there ever was one, with Australia placed 25th in the world while Indonesia are now the lowest-ranked team in the competition in 146th following the elimination of Hong Kong.
Making their first Asian Cup appearance since they co-hosted the tournament in 2007, Indonesia reaching the knockout round has been nothing short of a fairy tale -- but surely they could do the unthinkable?
They gave a decent account of themselves in defeats to Iraq and Japan with their sole victory thus far coming against regional rivals Vietnam, which means they are yet to cause a major upset.
This is far from the strongest outfit Australia have fielded at recent Asian Cups but they are still a formidable side that will be expected to negotiate their way past this test, even if the jury is still out on whether they have what it takes to go all the way and win a second crown.
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| Reuters |
Indonesia is in discussions with Australia about a possible joint bid to host the 2034 World Cup along with Malaysia and Singapore, the president of the country's football federation (PSSI) said on Wednesday (Oct 11).
World football's governing body FIFA invited member associations from Asia and Oceania to bid for the rights to the 2034 edition last week. FIFA has set a deadline of Oct 31 for other interested parties to make their intentions known.
When asked for comment on a possible joint bid, Football Australia referred Reuters to a statement last week that said it was "exploring the possibility of bidding for the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and/or the FIFA World Cup 2034".
Japanese superbike rider Haruki Noguchi has died aged 22, following critical injuries suffered in a crash last weekend during the fourth round of the Asia Road Championship in Indonesia, organisers said on Thursday.
The SDG Honda Racing rider, who finished third at the Suzuka-8 Hours this month, was treated for his injuries at Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit's medical centre.
