The highly anticipated FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 officially begins today, September 25, with two matches in Group A. The first match features host Indonesia taking on Singapore at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium at 8 PM local time. Indonesia enters the tournament with high hopes of claiming the championship, leveraging the advantage of playing all group stage matches at home.

Coach John Herdman has announced a strong squad of 23 players, including several who play abroad, such as Emil Audero, Maarten Paes, and Kevin Diks. The Indonesian team is not only bolstered by its player quality but also by the passionate home crowd at Gelora Bung Karno, which is expected to create significant pressure on visiting teams.

Indonesia is likely to take control of the match early, pushing forward to find an early goal. However, Singapore, under the guidance of Coach Gavin Lee, is not an easy opponent. The team has assembled its best 23 players, featuring experienced athletes like Safuwan Baharudin and Hariss Harun. Singapore is expected to adopt a cautious approach, maintaining team structure while waiting for opportunities to counterattack.

Historically, Indonesia has faced challenges against Singapore, with Indonesia winning 30, drawing 11, and losing 19 out of 60 encounters. In their last five meetings, Indonesia has won twice, drawn twice, and lost once. Recent form also favors Indonesia, which has scored 10 goals and conceded 5 in its last five matches, compared to Singapore's 6 goals scored and 5 conceded.

With the home advantage and a stronger squad, Indonesia is positioned to secure three points. However, if they become too aggressive and leave gaps in defense, Singapore could capitalize on these opportunities, making this match one to watch closely.

Earlier in the day, Malaysia will face Bangladesh at 4 PM in another Group A match. Malaysia, ranked 136th by FIFA, is favored over Bangladesh, ranked 181st, but must overcome recent inconsistent performances. Malaysia has lost its last two matches against Vietnam by a score of 0-2, while Bangladesh has shown some promise with players like Hamza Choudhury, who previously played for Leicester City.

The group stage continues with matches on September 28, featuring Singapore against Bangladesh and Malaysia against Indonesia, followed by Indonesia facing Bangladesh and Malaysia taking on Singapore on October 1.