Indonesia's head coach John Herdman has set his sights on winning the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, highlighting the formidable challenge posed by Singapore. As the teams prepare to face off on September 25, 2026, Herdman acknowledged Singapore's organizational strength and experience.

In a press conference held on September 24, Herdman expressed confidence in his players' high motivation and peak training intensity. "We want to fight for our fans and aim to lift the trophy in this tournament," he stated. All 23 players on the Indonesian squad are reportedly in good health and ready for the match. Despite some late arrivals to training, Herdman praised his team's efforts and readiness.

The match will mark the second encounter between Indonesia and Singapore in a short span, following their previous 1-1 draw in the ASEAN Cup 2026, which led to Indonesia's elimination from the tournament. Herdman believes that the earlier match provided crucial lessons for his team ahead of this rematch. He noted that Singapore is capable of executing a solid tactical organization and often plays with a compact formation. Many Singaporean players have been under the guidance of their coach for an extended period, which has helped them understand the team's system well.

"Singapore will certainly want to fight again and make it difficult for us. They are tough to beat," Herdman added. While he acknowledged that Indonesia boasts a higher team value, he emphasized that this factor alone does not guarantee victory if the players do not function cohesively as a unit.

According to Transfermarkt, Indonesia's squad is valued at approximately $24.6 million, the highest in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, while Singapore's squad is valued at just $3.9 million, the lowest in the tournament. Herdman was appointed to lead Indonesia with the goal of building a competitive team on the international stage. The FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 allows Indonesia to utilize a different squad compared to the AFF Cup, as the tournament falls within FIFA's international match calendar.

Prior to the tournament, Herdman did not select three players from Persib Bandung—Marc Klok, Beckham Putra, and Eliano Reijnders—who had previously participated in the ASEAN Cup 2026. He clarified that this decision was based on tactical requirements and not personal issues. The squad for the FIFA ASEAN Cup was formed from standout players during training camps in March and June.

"There is one team for the FIFA ASEAN Cup and another for the AFF Cup. We will have to wait and see which team shines," he remarked. Herdman stressed that player selection is based on performance on the field rather than reputation or personal profiles.

On the other side, Singapore views the opening match as an opportunity to test themselves against a highly regarded Indonesia team. Forward Ilhan Fandi acknowledged Indonesia's strength, stating that Singapore's goal is to create a challenging match for the hosts. However, Singapore will be without striker Ikhsan Fandi, who is sidelined due to a rib injury sustained while playing for Thespa Gunma in Japan. Meanwhile, first-choice goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud has returned to training and is considered fit by coach Gavin Lee.

Singapore is currently ranked 146th in FIFA standings, while Indonesia is ranked 118th. Following the match against Indonesia, Singapore will face Bangladesh on September 28 and Malaysia on October 1, while Indonesia will play Malaysia first, followed by Bangladesh.