"Coach Bear" declares the single goal is the 2026 ASEAN championship alongside youth development—Hector Suto, Indonesian coach, confident the team's quality is not inferior despite using many young players.
On 5 April 2026 at Riverine Place Hotel and Residence, the ASEAN Football Federation, together with the Football Association of Thailand, held a press conference to announce preparations for the ASEAN Futsal Championship 2026. The tournament will take place at the Nonthaburi Provincial Gymnasium from 6 to 12 April 2026. Eight nations will compete: Group A consists of Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste; Group B includes Indonesia (defending champions), Australia, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam.
"Coach Bear" Rakphol Sainetngam, head coach of the Thailand futsal national team, revealed, "Last year we lost the championship to Indonesia, so this year our single goal is to reclaim the title. However, we are also working to build the team for the future. You will see new players making their first national team appearances. We will do our best for the fans and encourage them to come and cheer us on to fill the stadium."
A reporter from Indonesia asked about the closely contested matches between Thailand and Indonesia, as well as Thailand’s goals in a tough group stage.
"As I said, our sole goal is to win the championship. Of course, we are in a strong group, with Vietnam, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste—all good teams. The first priority is to get through the group stage."
"Many countries have made significant player changes for this tournament, including Malaysia, Myanmar, and Indonesia. I think they remain strong, just as we have adjusted our team considerably. Every nation is capable, a good team, and comes with strong determination."
Meanwhile, Hector Suto, head coach of the Indonesian futsal team, spoke about team-building strategies and preparations before the tournament, confirming the team is in a development phase aimed at long-term goals.
“We are in the second phase of development after working together for about a year and a half to prepare the team for the 2028 Futsal World Cup qualifiers. Now it’s time to give opportunities to new players and those who have worked with us before to prove themselves again.”
The Spanish coach explained that calling up this squad aims to test potential and build a team for the long term.
“We want to see the current level of these players. We are trying to build a team that can compete and be ready whenever needed.”
He also emphasized that Indonesia must maintain its team identity.
“The important thing is for players to remember our playing style, understand how Indonesia plays, and preserve that identity on the court.”
However, Suto admitted the team faces limitations in preparation time.
“We have had only about five joint training sessions, which naturally affects team understanding and chemistry. But I still believe in the players’ quality. We are not inferior to other teams.”
Regarding the schedule requiring consecutive matches, the Indonesian coach does not see it as a problem.
“We have to play many games back-to-back, which is normal. We will focus on each match, control what we can, and try to develop the team steadily according to the pace of the competition.”
He also commented on the overall development of teams in ASEAN, noting continuous progress.
“Many ASEAN nations have increased investment and development, raising competition levels significantly. Every team has quality and can pose challenges to others.”
In conclusion, Suto stressed that Indonesia will strive for the best performance and adapt to any situation.
“We will take it game by game, analyze opponents, and adjust plans accordingly. The more we play, the better prepared the team will be.”
ASEAN Futsal Championship 2026 Match Schedule
ASEAN Futsal Championship 2026
Nonthaburi Provincial Central Stadium
6–12 April 2026 GMT+7
Broadcast live on TrueVisions Now
Match Day 1
Monday, 6 April 2026 GMT+7
12:30 Indonesia vs. Brunei Darussalam
15:00 Australia vs. Malaysia
17:30 Vietnam vs. Myanmar
20:00 Thailand vs. Timor-Leste
Match Day 2
Tuesday, 7 April 2026 GMT+7
12:30 Brunei Darussalam vs. Australia
15:00 Malaysia vs. Indonesia
17:30 Timor-Leste vs. Vietnam
20:00 Myanmar vs. Thailand
Match Day 3
Wednesday, 8 April 2026 GMT+7
12:30 Indonesia vs. Australia
15:00 Malaysia vs. Brunei Darussalam
17:30 Myanmar vs. Timor-Leste
20:00 Thailand vs. Vietnam
Semi-finals
Friday, 10 April 2026 GMT+7
17:00 Group B winner vs. Group A runner-up
20:00 Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up
雷 Third-place playoff and Final
Sunday, 12 April 2026 GMT+7
17:00 Third-place playoff
20:00 Final