John Herdman Prepares Two Different Indonesia Squads for Busy 2026 Schedule

John Herdman has started preparing a special strategy for Indonesia national football team ahead of a packed schedule in mid-2026. The Canadian-born coach plans to split the Garuda squad into two different groups for separate international competitions.

Indonesia are set to face Oman and Mozambique during the June 2026 FIFA Matchday window before competing in the 2026 AFF Cup later in July and August. Because of the tight calendar, the coaching staff believe separate preparations are necessary to keep the team competitive in both tournaments.

The biggest reason behind the squad division comes from international regulations involving players based in Europe. Many diaspora players competing in European leagues are unlikely to be released for the regional Southeast Asian tournament, forcing the national team to rely more heavily on domestic talent for the AFF Cup.

To prepare for that challenge, a training camp focused on local players will be held in Jakarta from May 25 to May 30, 2026. The coaching staff will use the camp to evaluate performances from Liga Indonesia players and identify those capable of earning places in the main squad.

Meanwhile, the June FIFA Matchday squad is expected to be built around Indonesia's Europe-based players, although local players still have a chance to compete for selection. After the FIFA fixtures are completed, the team's full attention will shift toward AFF Cup preparations with additional training sessions planned before the tournament begins.