After submitting the list, Indonesia was completely caught off guard by ASIAD.

Indonesia's plan to participate in ASIAD suddenly changed direction following adjustments to the criteria by AFC and OCA, even though the registration documents had been submitted earlier.

Indonesian football faces the risk of missing the 2026 Asian Games (ASIAD) despite having completed the preliminary player registration. Controversy arose due to changes in regulations by AFC and OCA, leaving many Southeast Asian representatives at a disadvantage.

The PSSI confirmed they have not yet received an official document from the ASIAD organizers, although regional media has continuously reported that Indonesia will not be allowed to participate. The Chairman of the National Team Agency (BTN), Sumardji, stated: “Up to now, we are still waiting for the official document regarding the possibility of participating in the Asian Games in Japan.” He affirmed that the federation is still coordinating with the Indonesian Olympic Committee to clarify the situation.

Notably, Indonesia has not been “left out” in the administrative process. PSSI representatives emphasized “the preliminary registration list was sent two months ago”, indicating that the plan to attend ASIAD 2026 was prepared well in advance. However, the news about Indonesia not meeting participation criteria came from the media, forcing PSSI to verify the information with relevant parties.

PSSI General Secretary, Yunus Nusi, also expressed caution regarding the new developments: “So far, no official document has been received, although we know the information originated from their official media channels.” He said the final decision depends on the organizers and the host country; PSSI cannot make conclusions without a written notification.

The reason Indonesia risks missing ASIAD 2026 stems from significant changes made by AFC and OCA. According to the new rules, the men's football tournament at ASIAD 2026 will feature only 16 teams, all qualified strictly based on performance at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, rather than the previous flexible registration through National Olympic Committees.

Under this allocation method, only teams that pass the 2026 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers will earn ASIAD spots. This means Indonesia, which will not participate in the 2026 AFC U23 Championship finals, is almost certainly excluded from the 16-team list, despite having completed initial registration procedures.

Meanwhile, only Vietnam and Thailand from Southeast Asia meet the new criteria. U23 Vietnam even ranked third at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, solidifying their top regional status and automatically securing a place at ASIAD 2026. The sudden change in criteria has left many football nations in the region, including Indonesia, unprepared in their squad planning.

Whether Indonesia will be officially excluded depends on the final announcement from the ASIAD 2026 organizers and related authorities. However, given the agreed-upon sporting criteria, the chance for PSSI to reverse the situation is very slim, despite having submitted the preliminary list early.