Indonesia's U-17 team has been placed in Group A of the AFF U-17 Cup 2026 alongside Vietnam, Malaysia, and Timor Leste following the draw in Jakarta on Friday. As hosts, Indonesia will stage the tournament in Gresik and Sidoarjo, East Java, from April 11 to 23. The event marks an early test for coach Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto.
The group draw for the AFF U-17 Cup 2026 took place in Jakarta on Friday (March 6, 2026), placing Indonesia's U-17 national team in Group A with Vietnam, Malaysia, and Timor Leste. The four teams will compete for two semifinal spots.
Indonesia, as the host nation, will hold the tournament from April 11 to 23, 2026, in two East Java cities: Gresik and Sidoarjo. This offers the Garuda Muda a home advantage following their proud achievements in the Asian U-17 Cup, where they have won twice. In the AFF U-17 Cup, however, Thailand, Vietnam, and Australia dominate, each with three titles.
Indonesia's U-17 team's most recent success came in 2022, when the tournament was still for the U-16 category. Now under new coach Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, the squad faces challenges from strong group rivals. The draw also formed Group B with Thailand, Myanmar, and the Philippines; and Group C comprising Australia, Cambodia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam.
The tournament serves as key preparation for Indonesia's youth team ahead of higher-level Asian competitions. With home support, the team is expected to deliver its best performance.
