Jakarta. Bali Eyewitness News – Indonesia ended decades of frustration in Southeast Asian football on Monday night, defeating Thailand 4-2 on penalties after a pulsating 2-2 draw to become the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup champion.
Goalkeeper Emil Audero emerged as the shootout hero before a packed Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, saving Thailand’s fourth penalty from Nattapong Sairiya after veteran midfielder Sarach Yooyen had earlier struck the post.
Indonesia, by contrast, were flawless from the spot.
Dean James, Elkan Baggott, Shayne Pattynama and Kevin Diks — all defenders — converted Indonesia’s four penalties to secure the country’s first senior men’s regional championship.
PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir views the Indonesian national team’s remarkable achievement in winning the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup as a valuable lesson as they look toward the World Cup. The “Garuda” squad secured the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup title after defeating Thailand 4–2 in a penalty shootout.
Erick Thohir shared these remarks with the media after accompanying President Prabowo Subianto and FIFA President Gianni Infantino to watch the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup final at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday evening (October 5).
“We must acknowledge that Thailand is an excellent team. However, I appreciate the players’ fighting spirit right to the very end. This serves as a valuable lesson for all the players and the coaching staff: if we truly want to reach the World Cup, we must prepare seriously, as the challenges ahead are immense,” said Erick, as quoted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports website.
Erick Thohir added that as a great nation, Indonesia must possess a strong fighting spirit to elevate the quality of its football. As part of this effort, he plans to conduct a collective evaluation to prepare for the Asian Cup.
“But we are Indonesia; we are not a nation that accepts defeat easily. We must continue to improve our football. There are certain areas of weakness that we likely need to address if we want to prepare effectively for the upcoming Asian Cup,” Erick Thohir added.
