Jakarta:Indonesia head coach John Herdman is aware of the significance of his team's FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 Division 1 Group A match against Malaysia at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Herdman, who took on the role of head coach earlier this year, noted the strong local interest in the match, likening it to a derby. Conversations during breakfast at his hotel have frequently highlighted the importance of the encounter, with guests urging him to ensure a win against Malaysia.

The English-born Herdman mentioned that his experience with major rivalries, such as the Newcastle-Sunderland derby and Canada's rivalry with the United States, has given him an understanding of the emotional investment in such fixtures.

Both Indonesia and Malaysia began their campaigns with victories, with Malaysia defeating Bangladesh 3-0 and Indonesia overcoming Singapore 2-0. Indonesia currently holds a world ranking of 118, which is 18 places above Malaysia's ranking of 136.

The teams last met in the 2021 AFF Cup, where Indonesia won 4-1. In their most recent encounter at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Malaysia claimed a 3-2 victory during the 2019 World Cup/2023 Asian Cup qualifying campaign. Historically, Malaysia has a slight edge in their head-to-head record, with 34 wins from 85 meetings, compared to Indonesia's 33 victories, and 18 matches ending in draws.