Which stars is Indonesia missing at the 2026 ASEAN Cup?

In contrast to the lineup that impressed during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Indonesia's ASEAN Cup 2026 roster features just a few recognizable players like Jordi Amat, Rizky Ridho, Sandy Walsh, Thom Haye, Eliano Reijnders, Ragnar Oratmangoen, and Justin Hubner.

The most talked-about absentee is Jay Idzes (Sassuolo), a center-back currently playing in Serie A. He was Indonesia's defensive leader during the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, known for his impressive command, game reading, and ability to launch attacks.

Also missing are Mees Hilgers, a center-back from Twente, and Kevin Diks of Mönchengladbach. All three are unavailable because their clubs refused to release them. On the flanks, Indonesia also lacks Calvin Verdonk, Lille's left-back, who often makes a difference with his attacking support and dangerous set-piece delivery.

The absence of these players forces John Herdman to rely on Jordi Amat, Sandy Walsh, and Rizky Ridho. While they are all quality names, they cannot provide the squad depth that Indonesia enjoyed during FIFA Days matches.

If the defense has suffered heavy losses, the midfield is where Indonesia lost the most crucial players. The most regrettable absence is Joey Pelupessy (Lommel), an experienced defensive midfielder playing in Europe. Also missing is Dean James (Go Ahead Eagles), a versatile player capable of playing both left-back and winger. Dean James' mobility once gave Indonesia more tactical options in big matches.

At the ASEAN Cup, John Herdman only has Thom Haye, Marc Klok, Beckham Putra, Kadek Arel, Rayhan Hannan, or Saddil Ramdani to rotate. While their quality is still highly rated in the region, it clearly cannot compare to the squad that defeated many strong opponents in the World Cup qualifiers.

The forward line is also where Garuda has suffered severely. Ole Romeny, a striker currently playing for Oxford United, cannot participate in the tournament. This forward was expected to become Indonesia's number one attacking spearhead in the coming years thanks to his movement and diverse finishing ability.

Another name is Maarten Paes, Indonesia's number one goalkeeper currently at Ajax, who was also not released by his club. Additionally, Emil Audero (Como), an experienced goalkeeper who played many years in Serie A, is also not on the ASEAN Cup roster.

The absence of a series of naturalized players of Dutch origin and stars playing in Europe reveals a major limitation in Indonesia's development strategy.

Over the past two years, Garuda has made tremendous progress thanks to a wave of players performing in the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, the United States, and Australia. However, since the ASEAN Cup takes place outside the FIFA calendar, clubs have every right to refuse to release players, and Indonesia immediately cannot use its strongest squad.

Regional media also assess that Indonesia is the team that suffers the most at the 2026 ASEAN Cup due to its heavy reliance on players based abroad.

However, that does not mean Indonesia has lost all its strength. The current squad still possesses many experienced national team players such as Jordi Amat, Thom Haye, Eliano Reijnders, Sandy Walsh, Rizky Ridho, Ragnar Oratmangoen, and Marc Klok.

Yet, when compared to the squad that fought in the World Cup qualifiers, Garuda has clearly lost many important cards across all three lines. This shortage is one of the reasons why Indonesia can no longer maintain its previous dominance and must enter a decisive match against Singapore in a must-win situation to keep hopes of reaching the semifinals of the 2026 ASEAN Cup alive.