Indonesia Face Uphill Battle After Being Placed in Pot 3 for the 2026 ASEAN Championship Draw

The Indonesian national team heads into the 2026 ASEAN Championship under mounting pressure after being officially placed in Pot 3 for the tournament draw. This position reflects a significant drop in status and signals that Indonesia are no longer viewed as one of the region’s top contenders. With the draw scheduled to take place in Jakarta, the outlook for the Garuda squad has become increasingly tense as tougher opponents loom from the very start of the competition.

Indonesia’s placement is the direct result of underwhelming performances in recent editions of the tournament. Seeding for the 2026 championship is based on results from the 2022 and 2024 tournaments, and Indonesia’s record during that period proved costly. A fourth-place finish in 2022 already raised concerns, but the situation worsened dramatically in 2024 when Indonesia failed to advance beyond the group stage and finished near the bottom of the overall standings.

That disappointing run caused Indonesia to fall behind regional rivals such as Malaysia and Singapore in the coefficient rankings. Both nations secured places in Pot 2, leaving Indonesia in a far more precarious position. As a Pot 3 team, Indonesia now face a high probability of being grouped with two traditionally stronger sides, making the path to the knockout rounds considerably more difficult.

The draw structure ensures that each group will include one team from Pot 1 and Pot 2, meaning Indonesia could be forced to face Southeast Asia’s giants at an early stage. Vietnam and Thailand headline Pot 1 as the region’s dominant forces, while Malaysia and Singapore await from Pot 2. A potential group featuring Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia would instantly become one of the most intense and demanding sections of the tournament.

With the draw set to define Indonesia’s fate, supporters are bracing themselves for a challenging campaign. Beyond determining group opponents, the event also marks a new chapter for the competition under its rebranded name, the ASEAN Hyundai Cup. For Indonesia, the tournament will be a true test of resilience, character, and ambition as they attempt to defy expectations and reclaim their standing in Southeast Asian football.