Indonesia vs Thailand: John Herdman Battles Tactically Against Anthony Hudson in the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup Final

Indonesia National Team Head Coach John Herdman has already begun visualising the tactical duel that will unfold in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 final. He is highly excited to face Thailand, as this match will see him go up once again against Anthony Hudson - a figure who was part of the historic Canada vs United States rivalry.

Indonesia secured their spot in the title decider after thrashing Bangladesh 9-2 at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (GBK), Jakarta on Thursday. The Garuda Squad will face Thailand in the final match on Monday 5 October, also hosted at GBK.

This fixture against Thailand holds special meaning for Herdman. Hudson is no stranger to him: the Thailand head coach previously served as assistant coach for the United States national team under Gregg Berhalter.

During that period, Herdman was at the helm of Canada, and faced the United States on three separate occasions. Across those three matches, Herdman's Canada side recorded one win, one draw, and one defeat.

Now the two men will stand on opposing touchlines for this final: Herdman leading Indonesia, while Hudson takes charge of Thailand as both sides battle for the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup trophy.

"He knows how my teams play. He studied Canada thoroughly when we faced the United States across multiple fixtures," Herdman stated in the post-match press conference following the 9-2 victory over Bangladesh at GBK on Thursday.

Herdman cannot wait for the final match. He even framed the fixture as a rare opportunity to watch two English-born managers battle tactically from the technical areas.

"And yes, I'm really excited. It will be great to shake his hand on the touchline, and watch two Englishmen go head to head with their game plans. This is going to be good," Herdman remarked.

That said, Herdman did not only discuss the upcoming tactical battle with Hudson. He emphasised that the Indonesia national team is still in a development phase, noting that his players have only completed six joint training sessions together so far.

According to the coach, team chemistry cannot be built instantly. Tournaments provide critical space for a squad to learn how to handle different match situations, while also developing their own playing identity.

"I have led teams to win two Olympic medals. I know how a team grows and develops over the course of a tournament. This takes time. The chemistry will come," said the 51-year-old coach.

Herdman has already observed this progress across Indonesia's last two matches. Where the side had previously focused heavily on defensive resilience, the fixture against Bangladesh showcased the Garuda squad's aggressive edge as they pushed for goals.

"In the second match, we saw the team fight to keep a clean sheet. In this match, we saw them fight to score goals," he added.

The dominant win over Bangladesh also demonstrated Indonesia's ability to adapt and respond to every phase of the match. Whether holding a large lead or dealing with late pressure, the Garuda squad maintained their intensity all the way to lock in their final berth.

The raucous support from the GBK stands has been a vital part of Indonesia's run so far. After the match concluded, fans repeatedly chanted Herdman's name - but the coach refused to get carried away with the celebrations.

"As for the fans chanting my name? Our only real mission is [the World Cup] 2030. This is just one small step along the way," he stated.

The 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup final against Thailand will be the first real test for Herdman's squad, following their nine-goal demolition of Bangladesh.