Indonesia secured its first FIFA ASEAN Cup title in 2026, defeating Thailand in a penalty shootout. This victory followed controversial claims by Indonesian football observer Akmal Marhali, who suggested the tournament was "arranged" for the host nation to win.

Marhali, in a podcast on 13/10, cited the group stage draw results and Indonesia's commercial appeal as evidence for his assertion. "The FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 was arranged for Indonesia to win," Akmal stated. "The group stage did not include Thailand or Vietnam, and the rankings of the teams in the same group were lower than Indonesia's, right?"

Indonesian football observer Akmal Marhali. *Photo: Pikiran-rakyat*

FIFA did not hold a traditional group stage draw for the tournament. Indonesia was placed in Group A with Malaysia, Singapore, and Bangladesh. Group B featured Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, and Pakistan. India initially occupied a spot in Group A but withdrew, leading to Bangladesh's invitation as a replacement. Akmal argued that avoiding regional powerhouses like Thailand and Vietnam in the initial stages provided a significant advantage for John Herdman's squad.

The observer also highlighted Indonesia's substantial football market as a key organizational factor. With a large fanbase, the Indonesian team holds considerable appeal for Southeast Asian audiences. Akmal emphasized, "Indonesia must reach the final. If they don't, who will want to watch this match?" He concluded that the FIFA ASEAN Cup was created to serve this market.

Indonesia lifts the championship trophy after the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 final at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia on 5/10. *Photo: Hai Tu*

Indonesia's path to victory was marked by controversy. In their final group match, the referee controversially extended second-half stoppage time for Indonesia from two to seven minutes. The final against Thailand also saw Indonesia play with a numerical advantage after Thailand defender Nicholas Mickelson received a red card. Thailand initially led 2-1 in extra time but conceded an equalizer, ultimately losing in the penalty shootout.

Before the final, John Herdman's team dominated their group, beating Singapore 2-0, drawing 0-0 with Malaysia, and crushing Bangladesh 9-2. This championship marked Indonesia's first FIFA ASEAN Cup title, following six previous runner-up finishes in the ASEAN Cup (formerly Tiger Cup and AFF Cup).

Akmal Marhali is a prominent football observer and coordinator for Save Our Soccer (SOS), an organization dedicated to monitoring and critiquing Indonesian football governance. His past roles include managing director of Tangerang Wolves Club and participation in the fact-finding team for the 2022 Kanjuruhan disaster. He frequently advocates for improved transparency in football management, refereeing, and the operations of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI).

By Hoang An (Source: Suara)