After defeating Vietnam, Indonesia aims to also overcome Japan

Indonesia futsal coach Hector Suto has set the goal to beat Japan to reach the 2026 Asian Futsal Championship final.

The Indonesian futsal team coach, Hector Souto, has instructed his squad to defeat Japan’s national futsal team to secure a spot in the 2026 Asian Futsal Cup final.

The team nicknamed Garuda has impressively secured a place in the semifinals of the 2026 Asian Futsal Championship after defeating the Vietnam Futsal Team 3-2 in the quarterfinals at Indonesia Arena, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday (03/02/2026). The Indonesian futsal team will face Japan for a place in the final at Indonesia Arena on Thursday (February 5, 2026).

"The final. Yes, that is the goal. I don’t know exactly how yet. Of course, I have some ideas," Coach Souto said. "But now, the objective is no longer just the tournament itself, but to reach the final and try to win the next match. There is no other option. This will be a tough battle," the strategist explained.

Reaching the semifinals of the 2026 Asian Futsal Cup will be a historic milestone for the Indonesian national futsal team. Previously, Garuda’s best achievement in this tournament was the quarterfinals in 2022 in Kuwait.

"I hope we can perform well in this match, taking the game to the final minutes," Souto said. "And I believe if we score first, our chances of winning will be higher. Of course, we need the Indonesia Arena to be as lively as it is today, because when we face difficulties, Indonesia Arena has truly supported us, especially in the closing moments," he added.

Meanwhile, Japan also reached the semifinals after defeating Afghanistan’s futsal team 6-0. So far, Japan remains undefeated in the 2026 Asian Futsal Championship, winning all four matches, including three group stage games and will be a huge challenge for Indonesia in the upcoming semifinal.