The Vietnam team will play away against Indonesia at the "cauldron" Gelora Bung Karno?

Erick Thohir, chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), has hinted at the potential relocation of the Indonesia vs. Vietnam group-stage match for the 2026 ASEAN Cup to Gelora Bung Karno (GBK), deviating from the original arrangement to host it at Pakansari Stadium in Bogor.

Speaking in the Sarinah area (Jakarta) on June 18, Mr. Erick Thohir stated: "If we face Vietnam, Thailand, or other major teams, it is likely we will use a large stadium like Gelora Bung Karno."

This move has been regarded as quite unexpected by Indonesian media, as previously PT Garuda Sepakbola Indonesia (GSI) CEO Marsal Masita had confirmed that Pakansari Stadium, with a capacity of around 38,000 seats, would be used for all group-stage matches, while Gelora Bung Karno would only be activated if Indonesia reached the semifinals.

According to Mr. Erick Thohir, the choice of venue will depend on various factors, including expected audience turnout and the condition of the pitch. The PSSI chairman emphasized that the organization wants to maintain a good stadium fill rate while rotating venues to ensure the pitch quality remains at its best.

"We want the stands to be reasonably filled, and we also aim to rotate stadium usage so that the pitch quality can continue to improve and stay in optimal condition for matches," Mr. Erick Thohir stated.

Indonesian media also views the Vietnam team as a benchmark for the strength of Group A in the 2026 ASEAN Cup. A JournalArta article notes that the red-shirted team has maintained a leading position in Southeast Asia for many years and often receives strong support from the Vietnamese community living in the Jabodetabek area and its surroundings.

In the 2026 ASEAN Cup, Indonesia is placed in Group A alongside Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, and Timor Leste. According to the schedule, the archipelago nation has two home matches against Vietnam and Cambodia. If they win both of these matches, the chances of coach John Herdman's team advancing to the semifinals will increase significantly.

Currently, the PSSI has not yet made a final decision on whether the Indonesia vs. Vietnam match will take place at Pakansari or Gelora Bung Karno.

However, the fact that the PSSI chairman specifically mentioned Vietnam as one of the opponents that could force Indonesia to use the country's largest stadium highlights the special appeal of the most anticipated showdown in Group A of the 2026 ASEAN Cup.