Báo England: 'Vietnam Makes Indonesia Champion
October 9, 2026 ·
Based on a report from the Guardian, Indonesia's success in winning the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup title does not guarantee that they are the best team in Southeast Asia, especially after Vietnam successfully defended its ASEAN Cup title.
Báo England: 'Vietnam Made Indonesia Champion
According to Vnexpress.
Background
Indonesia and Vietnam are now in intense competition in Southeast Asian football. The 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup title won by Indonesia may not be enough to change public opinion, especially after Vietnam successfully defended its title in the ASEAN Cup. This shows that even though Indonesia is achieving new success, the challenge to be recognized as the best team in the region is still very big.
Why this is important
Indonesia's success in winning the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup title does not necessarily make them the best team in Southeast Asia. Vietnam, which recently retained its ASEAN Cup title, pointed out that the tournament's tradition and history can influence perceptions of a team's dominance in the region. With Indonesia and Vietnam competing fiercely, this adds complexity to determining who is actually the king of Southeast Asian football.
Main Points
- Báo England: 'Vietnam Makes Indonesia Champion.
- Based on a report from the Guardian, Indonesia's success in winning the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup title does not guarantee that they are the best team in Southeast Asia, especially after Vietnam successfully defended its ASEAN Cup title.
- Báo Anh: 'Việt Nam khiến ngôi vô địch của Indonesia bị đặt dấu hỏi' - Báo VnExpress Thể thao.
In an article published on October 7 2026, the British newspaper, The Guardian, revealed that the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup title won by Indonesia was not enough to confirm their position as the best team in Southeast Asia. This is due to the fact that Vietnam has just successfully defended its champion title in the traditional tournament, the ASEAN Cup.
The author of the article, John Duerden, highlighted that Indonesia's success in the FIFA ASEAN Cup could quickly be forgotten, especially because in this region there is already an old tournament that has become a tradition for the national team, namely the ASEAN Cup. This tournament has been held every two years since 1996. In the 16th edition which took place last summer, Vietnam managed to beat Thailand with an aggregate of 4-2 after two final matches.
Indonesia won the title after defeating Bangladesh in the final match held at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, on October 5 2026. In this match, Indonesia had to win by a bigger margin than Malaysia who played against Singapore to qualify from the group phase. Malaysia managed to win 6-0, while Indonesia led 7-2 when the match entered the final minutes. The home team then scored two additional goals in the 96th and 97th minutes, ending the match with a 9-2 win and advancing to the semifinals.
On the other hand, Thailand had a smoother journey, managing to emerge as group winner in the preliminary round before advancing to the final. The team coached by Anthony Hudson won over Pakistan with a score of 4-0 and Vietnam 2-0, although they had to be willing to lose to the Philippines 1-2 in the last match of the group phase.
The report from the Guardian also highlighted the lack of spectator interest in the tournament, with many matches being attended by minimal spectators. Even though the final between Indonesia and Thailand was watched by around 67,000 spectators in Jakarta, the public's attention to the FIFA ASEAN Cup is still not comparable to the reputation of the ASEAN Cup which has been going on for 30 years. Except for matches involving the hosts, the FIFA ASEAN Cup often attracts only a few hundred to a thousand spectators.
Thus, even though Indonesia can call themselves champions of the FIFA ASEAN Cup, Vietnam still holds the ASEAN Cup title, a tournament that has a long history and is a traditional event for football in Southeast Asia.
What happened next
With Indonesia successfully progressing to the semifinals after a big win over Bangladesh, attention now turns to the next match. It is hoped that the Indonesian national team can maintain their high performance to face tougher opponents. Meanwhile, Vietnam will continue to be a benchmark for Indonesia in their efforts to build a reputation at regional level ahead of the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the final match of the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup?
Indonesia won the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup final after defeating Bangladesh.
What is the final score of the Indonesia vs Bangladesh match?
The final score of the Indonesia vs Bangladesh match was 9-2.
What impact will Indonesia's victory have on their position in Southeast Asia?
Indonesia's victory in the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup is being questioned because Vietnam has just defended its title in the ASEAN Cup.
When will Indonesia compete again after this victory?
The article does not mention the next match schedule for Indonesia.
Who won the latest ASEAN Cup?
Vietnam became champions in the latest ASEAN Cup after beating Thailand 4-2 on aggregate.