Indonesia’s Head Coach Warns Vietnam Ahead of Asian Cup Quarterfinals

Coach Hector Souto expressed strong confidence before leading Indonesia’s futsal team against Vietnam in the 2026 Asian Futsal Championship quarterfinals.

Indonesia’s futsal team concluded the group stage of the 2026 Asian Futsal Championship with a draw against Iraq, securing first place in Group A and advancing to the quarterfinals. Their upcoming opponent is Vietnam, a team that suffered a narrow defeat to Thailand in the final round and accepted second place in Group B.

After the match, Coach Hector Souto confidently declared that Indonesia aims to reach the semifinals and emphasized that the pressure will be on the Vietnamese futsal team.

Specifically, the Spanish strategist stated: "The next step, our goal is obviously to strive for our first-ever semifinal appearance. I mentioned this yesterday; the players are making history. This achievement is thanks to the support from the coaching staff and clubs who have continuously stood by them throughout the year...

We have nothing to lose. If any team feels pressure, it is Vietnam, because they have reached the semifinals multiple times."

Looking at their head-to-head record, Indonesia’s futsal team holds a slight advantage over Vietnam with 2 wins, 2 draws, and only 1 loss. However, in their most recent encounter, Vietnam secured a 1-0 victory over Indonesia at the 33rd SEA Games. This fact promises an exciting match between the two Southeast Asian representatives, both determined to assert their status and aim for a spot in the top four.

Regarding Indonesia’s futsal team, Coach Hector Souto denied claims that his players adopted a defensive style against Iraq, especially in the second half.

He explained: "That assessment is incorrect. Even when playing four against four, my team maintained an attacking approach. We only played defensively when the opponent used the power play strategy, as they were trying to secure the top spot in Group A.

We also wanted to protect our first-place position because Indonesia does not always have the chance to top the group in Asian tournaments."

The quarterfinal match between Indonesia and Vietnam will take place at 7 PM on February 3rd at the main venue, Indonesia Arena.