2027 Asian Cup Shifted to Year-End, Friendly Against the Netherlands Emerges as an Option for Indonesia

The Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) decision to postpone the 2027 Asian Cup to 23 December 2027–21 January 2028 has redrawn Indonesia's preparation map. Instead of gearing up for a tournament at the start of the year, the Garuda squad now has nearly an extra year—an unexpected gift that could be used to test its strength against a team of the Netherlands' caliber.

National football observer Aris Budi Sulistyo believes the long gap should not be wasted. According to him, Indonesia need to test themselves against top-tier teams so their quality improves before they play in Group F alongside Thailand, Qatar, and Japan. He called the Netherlands an ideal candidate because of historical closeness and the blood ties of the diaspora players.

“There is no harm in Indonesia inviting the Netherlands for a friendly. After all, many of our diaspora players come from the Netherlands, so at least we can learn more from a world-class team,” Aris Budi told Bola.com on Saturday (7/11/2026).

The postponement did not come without reason. The security situation in the Middle East had left the fate of the 2027 Asian Cup uncertain. AFC ultimately chose to shift the schedule for the safety of participants. For Indonesia, the decision actually opens wider room for improvement, especially since PSSI has called the postponement an advantage.

Several key players are still battling injuries. Ole Romeny has been sidelined for several months with an ankle injury at Fortuna Sittard. Mees Hilgers has just recovered from an ACL injury and is beginning to find form at Heerenveen. Jay Idzes was out for a long spell with a thigh muscle injury and missed the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup, while Kevin Diks is gradually returning to his best condition. With the extra time, their recovery can be more optimal without rushing.

On the other hand, this November's FIFA Matchday calendar is empty. Indonesia chose to train in Bali after their match against Jordan was cancelled due to security factors. The absence of quality opponents is a problem in itself. That is why Aris Budi is pushing for the next official friendly to genuinely bring in a team of the Netherlands' caliber. De Oranje—the Netherlands' nickname—are indeed no ordinary opponent. They are bolstered by names such as Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Denzel Dumfries, and Tijjani Reijnders, the older brother of Indonesian player Eliano Reijnders.

Historically, Indonesia and the Netherlands have met three times. On 13 June 1982 at the President Cup in South Korea, Indonesia fell 0-4. Two years later at the Merlion Cup in Singapore, the Garuda lost again 0-3. Most recently, on 7 June 2013 at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Indonesia, coached by Jacksen F. Tiago, succumbed 0-3 to a Netherlands side then featuring Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben. Despite always losing, the experience of facing elite teams remains valuable for player development.

“From there, the Indonesian national team will truly have in hand a squad composition that is genuinely relied upon at the Asian Cup later,” Aris Budi concluded.

The Netherlands are currently ranked 9th in the world. At the 2026 World Cup, they were eliminated in the round of 32 after losing to Morocco on penalties. Nevertheless, the quality of the squad under Xavi Hernandez remains above Indonesia. Facing them could be a benchmark for how far the national game has progressed under coach John Herdman.

With a preparation window stretching to the end of 2027, Indonesia have a golden opportunity to build strength. The question is whether PSSI and the coaching staff will use this momentum to test themselves against world-class opponents, or simply let it pass without meaningful friendlies.