HLV John Herdman 'changes his tune', declares Indonesia does not prioritize goals at the 2026 Asean Cup

The Indonesian national team is still perfecting its preparations for the 2026 AFF Cup. The team from the land of a thousand islands started a training camp at Bali United's base on July 5, but head coach John Herdman made a surprising shift in stance shortly before kickoff.

Head coach John Herdman shared with Bola about the Indonesian national team's preparation process for the 2026 AFF Cup. According to the Canadian tactician, his players are under no pressure to achieve a specific target in the tournament.

Furthermore, Herdman stated that the Indonesian players are not overly concerned about the 2026 AFF Cup. Thom Haye and his teammates are only focused on enjoying themselves and giving their best in each moment.

"We don't think about the tournament, nor about the final result. The players understand the opportunity they can achieve. The only thing we tell each other is to improve every single day," Herdman shared.

Although they are not prioritizing the 2026 AFF Cup, John Herdman affirmed that the Indonesian players are making very positive progress. According to him, the entire squad is getting better with each day of training.

The 50-year-old coach hopes that this improvement will reach its peak when Indonesia enters the 2026 AFF Cup campaign, a tournament that kicks off on July 24.

"Keep developing and getting better. We will see the peak at the right time. For now, the players' progress is truly amazing," Herdman emphasized.

Additionally, John Herdman admitted that the training regimen applied by the coaching staff to the Indonesian team is quite intense. He demanded that Sandy Walsh and his teammates achieve the best possible physical foundation before entering the 2026 AFF Cup.

"The players have fully embraced what we are building, and you can feel their excitement. They are also becoming more confident when playing together," Herdman concluded.

The Indonesian national team is in Group A alongside Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, and Timor Leste.

The 2026 AFF Cup, also known under its new name as the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026, will take place on a different schedule compared to previous editions. While the tournament was usually held at the end of the year, this time it will run from July 24 to August 26, 2026.

The tournament will still use a single round-robin format in the group stage, with each team playing two home matches and two away matches. The semifinals and final will be played in a two-legged format. The 2026 AFF Cup promises to continue being a tournament eagerly awaited by Indonesian national team fans.