2027 Asian Cup Schedule Released, Indonesia Face Day-Night Test in Saudi Arabia
Baca dalam 60 detik
- AFC merilis jadwal lengkap Piala Asia 2027, tetapi status turnamen masih belum pasti.
- Timnas Indonesia tergabung di Grup F dan akan bermain pada siang dan malam hari.
- Keamanan Arab Saudi menjadi sorotan setelah serangan Houthi, keputusan final menunggu Exco AFC November 2026.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced the match schedule for the 2027 Asian Cup, even though the tournament remains clouded by uncertainty over security conditions in Saudi Arabia. Indonesia, placed in Group F, will play three matches with varying kick-off times, ranging from the afternoon to the evening WIB.
According to the released schedule, the Garuda squad will face Japan on 11 January 2026 at 17.30 WIB at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium, Jeddah. Five days later, Indonesia will take on Qatar at Aramco Stadium, Khobar, at 23.30 WIB. The final group-stage match will pit Indonesia against Thailand on 20 January 2026 at 17.30 WIB at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah.
However, the fate of the 2027 Asian Cup still hangs in the balance. The tournament, scheduled to run from 7 January to 5 February 2027 in Saudi Arabia, is at risk of postponement following attacks by Houthi rebels from Yemen that killed more than ten people and injured dozens of others. Japan Football Association (JFA) president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto said his side had been in communication with Saudi Arabia and the AFC.
"We have just held a meeting with the Saudi side. They stressed that the safety of the players, supporters, and everyone involved is the top priority," Miyamoto said, as quoted by Soccer King.
Miyamoto added that a decision on staging the tournament would be made in coordination with the AFC and would take time. He also declined to speculate too far on the possibility of a postponement. "I cannot say much about the various possibilities that remain assumptions. But the most important thing is that we must truly prioritize safety," he said.
For Indonesia, this schedule poses a challenge of its own. Playing in the daytime in Saudi Arabia with high temperatures will certainly require physical adaptation and a specific strategy. Coach John Herdman must prepare the team as well as possible, including in terms of player rotation and energy management. In addition, the gap between matches of only five days also demands peak fitness.
On the other hand, certainty over the staging of the 2027 Asian Cup is crucial for long-term preparation. If the tournament is postponed, the training and friendly-match programs already planned could be disrupted. PSSI and the coaching staff will certainly hope that the security situation in Saudi Arabia soon becomes conducive so the tournament can be held as scheduled.
The 2027 Asian Cup itself is a golden opportunity for Indonesia to show its strength on the Asian stage after impressive performances in several recent tournaments. With a squad composition that keeps developing, including overseas players, Indonesia has the potential to spring a surprise. But all of that depends on certainty over the tournament.
As of this news being published, the AFC has not issued an official statement regarding a possible postponement. The Asian football public, especially in Indonesia, is now waiting for the outcome of the AFC Exco meeting in November 2026, which will determine the direction of the 2027 Asian Cup.
