Indonesia vs Singapore: Garuda Ready to Get Revenge on the Lions
Indonesia will begin their FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 campaign against Singapore on Friday evening WIB, with the Garuda preparing to open their tournament at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta.
Playing in front of their home supporters, Indonesia are expected to field their strongest available squad. The encounter will also provide an opportunity for John Herdman’s side to respond after a disappointing meeting with Singapore in their most recent encounter at the 2026 AFF Championship.
Indonesia were eliminated from the AFF Championship on August 7, 2026, after being held to a 1-1 draw by Singapore at Jalan Besar Stadium in the final match of the group stage.
The result left Indonesia with seven points and third place in Group A. Singapore, meanwhile, collected the point they needed to progress to the semi-finals alongside group winners Vietnam.
The circumstances are different this time, however, because the FIFA ASEAN Cup is included on the FIFA international calendar. That gives Herdman greater freedom to select his strongest squad compared with the previous AFF Championship, which did not fall within the same international window.
As a result, Indonesia are expected to have several of their prominent European-based players available. Kevin Diks, Calvin Verdonk and Ole Romeny are among those expected to feature against Singapore.
However, Indonesia will once again be without captain Jay Idzes. The defender is expected to spend several months on the sidelines after suffering an injury while playing for U.S. Sassuolo Calcio in the 2026/27 Serie A season.
Singapore will also provide a familiar challenge for Indonesia. The Lions have enjoyed a number of competitive encounters with the Garuda in recent years, making Friday’s opening fixture another potentially difficult test for Herdman’s side.
Head-to-Head: Indonesia vs Singapore
7 August 2026 – Singapore 1-1 Indonesia | AFF Championship
25 December 2021 – Indonesia 4-2 Singapore (AET) | AFF Championship
22 December 2021 – Singapore 1-1 Indonesia | AFF Championship
11 September 2018 – Singapore 1-0 Indonesia | AFF Championship
25 November 2016 – Singapore 1-2 Indonesia | AFF Championship
Predicted Lineups
Indonesia (3-4-2-1)
Emil Audero; Justin Hubner, Elkan Baggott, Kevin Diks; Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Calvin Verdonk; Joey Pelupessy, Thom Haye; Luke Vickery, Ole Romeny, Mitchell Baker.
Head coach: John Herdman
Singapore (4-3-3)
Izwan Mahbud; Jacob Mahler, Nur Adam Abdullah, Lionel Tan, Hariss Harun; Shah Shahiran, Song Ui-yong, Kyoga Nakamura; Ilhan Fandi, Shawal Anuar, Faris Ramli.
Head coach: Gavin Lee
Prediction
Indonesia enter the tournament with the advantage of playing at home and having greater access to their European-based players. The return of several key figures should give Herdman more options than he had during the previous meeting with Singapore.
The Lions, however, have already demonstrated that they can make life difficult for Indonesia, particularly after holding the Garuda to a draw in their most recent encounter. The visitors are expected to remain compact and look for opportunities on the counter.
With Indonesia possessing greater depth and home advantage, the hosts are expected to begin their FIFA ASEAN Cup campaign with a victory.
Predicted score: Indonesia 2-0 Singapore.
