Championship Target: Should John Herdman Completely Overhaul the Indonesia National Team Squad?

IndonesiaTravelSport.com - John Herdman faces a major challenge leading the Indonesian Men's National Football Team. After failing to take the Garuda Squad past the group stage of the 2026 AFF Cup, the English head coach has now been assigned an even more ambitious target: deliver the championship title for Indonesia at the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup.

This official target was announced by PSSI Secretary General Yunus Nusi on 26 August 2026. PSSI remains confident, as nearly all of Indonesia's core overseas-based players are eligible and expected to be available for this FIFA calendar-sanctioned tournament. Herdman has been instructed to conduct full, proper preparations for the squad.

Positive updates have come through for Jay Idzes, Kevin Diks, and Calvin Verdonk. Per information from Noor Korompot, all three players have confirmed they can join the national team camp approximately one week prior to the tournament. Note that this confirmation is separate from the official final squad list; as of 26 August, PSSI had not yet received any proposed player shortlist from Herdman.

This uncertainty has made the question of the final squad composition one of the most discussed topics: will John Herdman need to implement a full overhaul of the Indonesian National Team?

The disappointing 2026 AFF Cup exit will be the baseline for evaluation. Indonesia finished 3rd in Group A with 7 points, eliminated from semi-final qualification after a 1-1 draw against Singapore.

That said, this poor result does not automatically justify replacing the entire squad.

Instead, Herdman now has the opportunity to run a full, unrushed evaluation with a far wider pool of eligible players. The addition of overseas-based professionals will bring upgraded quality as well as healthy new internal competition within the team.

The case of Rizky Ridho serves as the most recent example. Unverified reports circulated claiming the centre-back would be excluded from the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup squad. PSSI has officially denied these claims, with Yunus Nusi confirming the rumours are false - since no official squad list has been submitted by Herdman yet, no player can be formally considered dropped at this stage.

Ridho holds significant senior experience for Indonesia. He has earned 54 international caps since his 2021 debut, and played every full minute of all three of Indonesia's matches at the 2026 AFF Cup.

However, past experience will not guarantee any player an automatic spot in the final squad.

Herdman will make all selections based on the requirements of his tactical system. Players will be judged on their ability to execute pressing patterns, transition play, positional discipline, one-on-one duels, and calm decision making under high pressure.

This same standard applies to the overseas-based players. While competing at club level in Europe is a notable advantage, this alone will not guarantee a starting position.

With Idzes, Diks, Verdonk and other overseas players potentially available, Herdman actually has greater flexibility to build the strongest functional line-up. What is required is not a total squad overhaul, but a complete, unbiassed evaluation of every available player.

Established core players may be retained, but no one can take their place in the squad for granted. Equally, new players will be given opportunity if they prove a better fit for Herdman's tactical system.

Pressure on the head coach continues to build, with PSSI's target unambiguous: win the tournament. Indonesia have been drawn in Group A alongside Malaysia, Singapore and Bangladesh, with all of their group stage matches scheduled to be hosted in Jakarta.

For this reason, the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup is not simply a chance to test new players. This is the stage where John Herdman must prove he can convert the raw individual potential of Indonesia's player pool into a cohesive, genuinely competitive international team.

The public will be watching closely to see which players receive call ups, who misses out, and how the selected squad will be arranged within the coach's system.

Ultimately, the real question is not simply "should the squad be completely overhauled?"

The far more critical question is this: how bold will John Herdman be in selecting players that fit his own tactical system, in order to deliver on PSSI's championship target?

Because Indonesia will not succeed by just fielding the best individual players.

Herdman must find the right combination that functions together as a championship winning team.

This full discussion on squad selection, potential line-up changes, and Indonesia's prospects at the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup is the focus of the latest ITSMe podcast, featuring football analysts Erwin Fitriansyah and Firzie Idris.

Recorded at Sentul Studio, the episode is hosted by Gilang Respaty and Pudila, and breaks down the long term direction of the Indonesian National Team under John Herdman, and the obstacles standing between the squad and the tournament title.