The draw, conducted by ASEAN representative Faraz Shamsi, confirmed that Indonesia will once again be in the same group with the reigning champions, Vietnam. The two rivals last met during the 2024 edition’s group stage, where a disciplined Vietnam side led by coach Kim Sang-sik secured a 1-0 victory.
While Indonesia previously fielded a younger squad under Shin Tae-yong, the upcoming edition sees a new era under the freshly appointed Canadian coach John Herdman.
“This tournament is difficult with many opponents of similar level,” Herdman said at the draw. “All teams have a chance and we will have to try our best.”
Coach Kim Sang-sik will be wary of Indonesia’s ability to call upon talent from top-flight leagues in the Netherlands, Italy and England, though the tournament’s summer timing, which overlaps with European pre-season preparations, may complicate releases of the players.
| Group A | Group B |
| Vietnam | Thailand |
| Singapore | Malaysia |
| Indonesia | Philippines |
| Cambodia | Myanmar |
| Timor Leste/Brunei | Laos |
In ASEAN Cup history, Vietnam have recorded three wins, seven draws and three losses against Indonesia. However, prior to their 2024 ASEAN Cup victory, Vietnam suffered a run of three consecutive defeats against Indonesia in the Asian Cup and World Cup qualifiers.
Tournament seedings were determined by performance across the 2022 and 2024 editions, placing Vietnam and Thailand in Pot 1. Pot 2 consists of Malaysia and Singapore, while the Philippines and Indonesia are in Pot 3. Pot 4 has Cambodia and Myanmar, with Laos and a qualifying winner (Brunei or Timor Leste) rounding out Pot 5.
Organizers intentionally separated Thailand and Cambodia into different groups due to ongoing border conflicts and military tensions, aiming to prevent potential match cancellations or security risks similar to those that led to Cambodia’s withdrawal from the recent 33rd SEA Games.
Vietnam (in red) defeat Indonesia 1-0 in the group stage of the ASEAN Cup at Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho Province on Dec. 15, 2024. Photo by Read/Lam Thoa |
The 2026 ASEAN Cup is scheduled to run from July 24 to Aug. 26, immediately following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The competition retains its traditional format, with teams playing a round-robin group stage featuring two home and two away matches each. The top two teams from each group will advance to the two-legged semi-finals and finals. This marks only the third time the tournament has been held in the summer after 1996 and 1998, a shift intended to align with the regional off-season and potentially allow for stronger squad selections.
The most successful team in the competition’s 30-year history are Thailand with seven titles, followed by Singapore with four and Vietnam with three. Vietnam enter the 2026 edition as the defending champions after defeating Thailand 5-3 on aggregate in the January 2025 final.
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