Even before the 2026 AFF Cup kicks off, the Vietnam national team has already got Indonesia excited.

Though the 2026 AFF Cup hasn't started yet, Indonesian supporters are particularly focused on the clash with Vietnam, which is considered the most riveting and competitive matchup of the group phase.

At the 2026 AFF Cup, Indonesia is placed in Group A alongside Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, and the winner of the playoff between Brunei and Timor-Leste. The archipelago nation will host Vietnam at Pakansari Stadium (Bogor) on August 3, a match deemed crucial in the race for a semifinal spot. According to Bola Indonesia, from this moment on, Indonesian fans' attention is already concentrated on this showdown, considered the hottest game in the group.

Famous football analyst Ronny Pangemanan believes this is the most anticipated match for Indonesia in the group stage of the 2026 AFF Cup. On his personal YouTube channel Bung Ropan, he emphasized: "The second home game will be against a strong team, the most anticipated match with a very high level of rivalry." This remark quickly drew attention from fans, as Vietnam has long been regarded as one of Indonesia's biggest rivals in the region.

According to Pangemanan, the appeal of the match comes not only from the technical aspects but also from the passionate atmosphere that Indonesian supporters will create in the stands. He stated: "There will certainly be many people wanting to come to the stadium to watch this match. The clash between Indonesia and Vietnam will take place on August 3." This statement clearly reflects the strong excitement of the Indonesian public for the encounter with the Vietnam national team.

Meanwhile, Indonesia's preparations are ongoing alongside plans for the FIFA Matchday in June. Pangemanan said: "After the training camp to evaluate which players will compete in the AFF Cup in July and August, John Herdman will focus on the FIFA Matchday in early June. Indonesia will face Oman on June 5 and Mozambique on June 9. There are 26 players selected from the list of 44 players announced for the AFF Cup and FIFA Matchday camps. We'll wait to see who John Herdman picks."

Since the AFF Cup is not on the official FIFA calendar, Indonesia will likely use a squad primarily from the domestic league. Pangemanan explained: "Because this is the AFF Cup, the tournament is for domestic players or those playing in the Liga Super. Players currently in Europe will not participate in the AFF Cup since it is not a FIFA window." That means European-based stars will be prioritized for the FIFA Matchday rather than the regional tournament.

To prepare for the Southeast Asian football festival, PSSI is currently urgently upgrading Pakansari Stadium, where Indonesia will play their home group-stage matches. However, amid all the preparations, the focus that has been most mentioned by Indonesian media and fans is still the clash with the Vietnam national team. Given the growing competitive nature and rivalry between the two sides, this is being hailed as the match that the people of the archipelago nation are most eagerly awaiting at the 2026 AFF Cup.