John Herdman Reveals Reasons Why 3 Persib Players Were Not Included in the Indonesia National Team for the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup.

Indonesia National Team head coach John Herdman has explained the reasoning behind not calling up three Persib Bandung players to join the Garuda Squad for the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup. The three Maung Bandung players are Marc Klok, Eliano Reijnders, and Beckham Putra.

Herdman confirmed this decision was related to the team's technical requirements, not an issue with the players' commitment or attitude. The English head coach is assembling a squad composition with player profiles matched specifically aligned to the needs of this tournament.

"It all comes down to player profiles," Herdman stated during the pre-match press conference ahead of the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup fixture against Singapore in Jakarta.

According to Herdman, Player Selection was carried out by evaluating requirements for every playing position. The coaching staff targeted players with specific characteristics so that the team's game strategy and playing identity can be implemented optimally.

This aspect formed one of the core bases for compiling the final 23-man squad for the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup. Herdman acknowledged this was not an easy decision, as many eligible players possessed the quality to earn a place in the roster.

The 51-year-old coach confirmed there were no commitment issues behind the decision to omit Klok, Eliano and Beckham. All three players retain the opportunity to be recalled to the national squad for future call-ups.

Herdman emphasized that the door to the Indonesia National Team remains open for players not selected on this occasion. Performances for their club sides will remain the primary way for these players to regain the national coaching staff's attention.

"As I told them personally, their performances at club level and the trajectory of their careers will always speak for themselves," he said.

For Herdman, player selection is not based on personal loyalty towards any individual. Technical factors and squad balance requirements are the primary considerations when finalising a tournament squad.

"This is about performance, or whether we need a different player profile for this tournament when accounting for the combination of players available to us," he added.

This decision demonstrates Herdman's core approach to building the Indonesia National Team. The English coach does not only evaluate only individual player quality, but also how each player can complement the overall collective needs of the team.

Herdman's focus has now shifted to the opening match of the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup. Indonesia are drawn in Group A alongside Singapore, Malaysia and Bangladesh, with Singapore as their first opponent at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK), Jakarta.

The Indonesia vs Singapore match is scheduled to kick off on Friday 24 September at 20.00 WIB. This fixture will be the first official test for Herdman following the squad's preparation camp for this FIFA sanctioned tournament.

Herdman hopes his players will be able to translate their training work into match performance. Singapore has well structured organisation and collective tournament experience, meaning this opening match will also give Indonesia the chance to assess the team's development under competitive conditions.

For Klok, Eliano and Beckham, consistent performances with their club remains their path to earn future consideration. Herdman has kept the door open for all players outside the current squad to compete for a place in the Indonesia National Team going forward.