Indonesia announces AFF Cup 2026 squad: Seven regulars absent, defense in crisis ahead of tournament

On September 18, 2026, the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) officially announced the 23-man squad for the AFF Cup 2026 under head coach Herdman. This information was reported directly by VIVA, one of Indonesia's leading sports publications, based on sources from PSSI. However, the most notable aspect is not the names included, but the lengthy list of absent regulars.

According to the announcement, at least seven players who have been regulars for the national team will be unable to participate in this year's tournament. Six names were detailed: Jay Idzes, Beckham Putra, Eliano Reijnders, Sandy Walsh, Marselino Ferdinan, and Shayne Pattynama. A seventh name was mentioned but not specified in the original article — one of two notable inconsistencies in this report.

Defense Suffering the Heaviest Losses

A detailed analysis of the absences shows that three of the six mentioned players are defenders: Jay Idzes, Sandy Walsh, and Shayne Pattynama. This represents the most significant tactical blow for coach Herdman, as the defensive line has always been the most critical foundation for any team competing in a regional tournament.

Jay Idzes, the center-back currently playing for Sassuolo in Serie A, is the most concerning case. The article indicates the 26-year-old suffered a quadriceps injury with an expected recovery time of six to eight weeks. This means Idzes will almost certainly miss the entire tournament, not just a single match. Given that the player recently delivered an impressive performance helping Sassuolo defeat Juventus 3-2, his injury becomes even more regrettable.

Sandy Walsh, one of Indonesia's key right-backs, is also absent from the squad. Notably, Walsh has yet to make an official debut for Persib Bandung in this season's Indonesian Super League. This indicates he is still recovering and has not reached the minimum fitness level required by coach Herdman.

Shayne Pattynama, the left-back who has earned 16 caps for Indonesia, is also on the waiting list. The Persija Jakarta player has yet to accumulate any minutes in Persija's first two Super League matches. A lower back injury is cited as the reason for his unavailability.

Midfield Loses Creative Inspiration

Not only the defense, Indonesia's midfield has also suffered significant losses with the absence of three players. Beckham Putra, the highly-rated central midfielder, Eliano Reijnders, and Marselino Ferdinan are all missing from the final list.

Marselino Ferdinan is the most notable case in this department. The young player recently underwent knee surgery and is in an extended recovery phase. With the loss of what is considered Indonesia's most creative attacking-midfield option, coach Herdman will need to find an entirely new solution for this position.

Beckham Putra has been called up in each of his three most recent selections, indicating he is an important figure in the coaching staff's calculations. His absence means Indonesia loses an effective option for controlling the midfield area.

Eliano Reijnders, a European-heritage naturalized player, is also unable to participate. While no specific details about his absence were provided, the loss of another midfielder shows Indonesia will face significant depth challenges.

The Difference Between Genuine Injuries and Technical Decisions

A notable point in the article is how absences are categorized. Not all stem from pure injuries. The analysis reveals a mix between genuine injury cases — such as Idzes with his six-to-eight week quadriceps injury and Marselino following knee surgery — and cases excluded due to insufficient fitness.

Walsh and Pattynama are typical examples of the second group. While no specific injury reports were issued, both have yet to accumulate sufficient match minutes at club level. Walsh has yet to debut for Persib, while Pattynama has zero minutes in Persija's first two matches. This shows coach Herdman is implementing a strict fitness-gating policy, where players must prove their readiness at club level before being called up to the national team.

The decision to exclude players who are not fully fit reflects Herdman's coaching philosophy — a strategist with experience leading national teams in multiple countries. He appears to prioritize fitness quality over reputation or past achievements, an approach that may generate controversy but demonstrates professional rigidity.

The Hybrid Naturalization Model — Advantages and Risks

The article exposes a crucial structural feature of Indonesian football: heavy dependence on the European-heritage naturalized player pipeline. Four of the six absent players — Idzes, Walsh, Pattynama, and Reijnders — are naturalized or dual-heritage players recruited through Indonesia's naturalization program.

Idzes plays in Serie A, Italy's top-tier league and among Europe's top five championships. Walsh and Pattynama have been naturalized and accumulated international experience. This model significantly elevates Indonesia's squad quality compared to regional competitors, but simultaneously creates a structural vulnerability: the player supply chain depends entirely on injury cycles at European clubs.

When Idzes sustains an injury at Sassuolo, when Walsh cannot yet play for Persib, when Pattynama struggles with a back injury at Persija — all these issues lie beyond the control of PSSI or the national team coaching staff. This is the price paid for building a squad based on naturalized players.

Three Notable Inconsistencies

Beyond its informational value, VIVA's article contains several points requiring further verification. First, the article claims seven players are absent but only lists six names in detail. The seventh player is not identified, creating an information gap that needs clarification.

Second, there is inconsistency in how the tournament is named. The headline and some passages use the term "FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026," while other sections mention "AFF Cup 2026" or "ASEAN Cup 2026." In reality, Southeast Asia's premier football tournament is organized by the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), not FIFA. The use of the "FIFA" prefix may be a naming error or reflect FIFA's broader branding integration into regional calendars, but cannot be confirmed from available sources.

Third, while the article mentions Beckham Putra with three recent call-ups and Pattynama with 16 national team caps, no detailed information is provided about the specific fitness status or reasons for each player's absence. This limits the ability to accurately assess the impact of each case.

Impact on Tournament Prospects

With the loss of three center-backs and three central midfielders, Indonesia faces a significant squad reconstruction challenge ahead of the tournament. Coach Herdman will need to adjust tactics toward a more conservative approach, employing tight defensive structure and quick counter-attacks rather than proactive possession play.

The absence of Idzes is particularly concerning as he is Indonesia's best center-back currently, with Serie A experience and superior defensive organization abilities compared to any domestic replacement options. His absence is equivalent to losing an irreplaceable pillar in a national team with only 23 players.

Club-country friction concerns also become more apparent. Persib Bandung loses three players (Beckham Putra, Eliano Reijnders, Sandy Walsh), while Persija Jakarta loses Pattynama. These clubs will bear financial and professional burdens as their players are simultaneously called up and recovering from injury.

Open Questions for the Next Phase

Moving forward, observers need to monitor three critical signals. First, which players will PSSI call up to fill the vacant positions, particularly at center-back. Second, can Idzes recover earlier than expected to participate in part of the tournament. Third, can Walsh and Pattynama reach match fitness in the coming period.

Despite limitations in analytical depth and notable inconsistencies, this report provides a clear picture of Indonesia's personnel situation ahead of AFF Cup 2026. The national team is facing its most serious personnel crisis in many years, and coach Herdman will need to prove his adaptability amid resource shortages.

Information about the official 23-man roster should be verified directly with PSSI to resolve the discrepancy in absence numbers. The tournament is expected to take place in late 2026, and Indonesia — despite missing many regulars — is still considered one of the top favorites for the regional championship title.