Timor Leste announces 26 players for the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup

The squad of 26 players for the Timor Leste national team has been announced by head coach Jose Pedro Alves Salazar ahead of the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup, which will take place at the end of July and in August.

Timor Leste secured their spot in the group stage by overcoming Brunei Darussalam with an aggregate score of 6-1 in the play-off round. Coach Salazar's side won 3-0 away in Brunei in the first leg on June 2, before claiming another 3-1 victory in the return leg held in Kuala Lumpur on June 9.

Following the play-offs, Timor Leste has entered the preparation phase for the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup with a training camp roster of 26 players. However, the Timor Leste Football Federation has yet to release detailed training plans or friendly matches before the tournament.

Notably, the Timor Leste squad features several players who are currently playing or have developed abroad. Among them, striker Oatnasio da Silva represents Portadown in Northern Ireland.

Other notable names include Zion Cruz, Claudio Osorio, and Oatnasio da Silva—the three players who scored in the 3-1 victory over Brunei in the second leg of the play-off round.

Timor Leste will kick off their campaign by hosting defending champions Vietnam on July 24. Afterwards, Coach Salazar's team will face Singapore, Indonesia, and Cambodia in successive matches.

Group A of the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup includes defending champions Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, and Timor Leste. This is considered a tough group for Timor Leste as they must take on three historically successful teams in Southeast Asian football.

Vietnam enters the tournament as the reigning champions. Singapore has won the title four times, while Indonesia has finished as runners-up six times and continues to aim for their first Southeast Asian championship.

In comparison, Timor Leste is not regarded as a contender for the top two spots in the group. However, their 6-1 aggregate victory over Brunei shows that Coach Salazar's side is preparing well and possesses some notable young talents.

The inclusion of numerous players with international football backgrounds also brings a fresh element to Timor Leste's roster. As an underdog, Timor Leste could become a challenging opponent, especially in their opening match against Vietnam on July 24.

Timor Leste national team squad

Goalkeepers: Dylan Jose Niski, Alexandre Lima, Igidio Oliveira.

Defenders: Juvito Moniz, Jackson M. Pereira Fowler, Eric Tomas T. Silva, Joao Varudo, Ryan Harris Jom, Anizo Correia, Liam Fernando Farrugia.

Midfielders: Palomito Ribeiro, Natalino de Jesus, Claudio Osorio, Tristan Xavi Arrarte, Denilson Almeida.

Forwards: Paulo Gusmão, Luis Figo, Joao Pedro, Olagar Xavier, Angenuku Viegas, Joao Rangel, Gustavo Mota, Oatnasio Guterres, Vabio Cannavaro, Zion Cruz, Alexandre Corsino.