AFC openly states Indonesia's intention to dethrone Vietnam's national team in Southeast Asia.

AFC evaluates Indonesia's hiring of coach John Herdman as a sign of fresh aspirations, applying strong pressure on the existing regional football order dominated by Vietnam.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has paid special attention to Indonesia's decision to appoint John Herdman, emphasizing the island nation's main goal of winning the AFF Cup. According to AFC, choosing a coach with extensive World Cup experience indicates Indonesia openly reveals its ambition to become Southeast Asia's number one.

In an analysis published after the appointment ceremony, AFC described Herdman as a strategic piece in Indonesia’s aspirations to rise. The English coach will debut soon at the FIFA Series before focusing fully on the AFF Cup held in July and August, a tournament AFC believes Indonesia “has set its highest ambitions for.”

This ambition becomes even clearer considering Indonesia's biggest rival is currently Vietnam, the reigning ASEAN Cup 2024 champions. Coach Kim Sang Sik's team defeated Thailand with a 5-3 aggregate score over two final matches, including a 3-2 win at Rajamangala Stadium, which solidified their top regional status.

AFC's emphasis on Indonesia's AFF Cup championship ambition signals a clear shift in the regional balance of power. With the goal set at Southeast Asia's summit, Indonesia naturally focuses its attention on the current champion Vietnam, making the AFF Cup a mandatory benchmark for the new era's ambitions.

Previously, Southeast Asian media collectively expressed strong attention. ASEAN Football described this as “a bold step forward for Indonesian football,” also highlighting Herdman as “the only coach worldwide to have led both a men's and women's national team from the same country to FIFA World Cup qualification,” a rare achievement in the region.

According to regional assessments, with a packed schedule from the FIFA Series, FIFA Matchdays to the AFF Cup, Indonesia is sending a very clear message. The Southeast Asian competition is no longer just about Vietnam or Thailand; it has entered a new phase where Indonesia openly aims to topple and challenge the regional king.

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