Indonesia U-17 Fails to Reach Semifinals After Draw With Vietnam

Jakarta, Indonesia – The Indonesian U-17 national team has been eliminated from the ASEAN U-17 Boys Championship 2026, failing to secure a spot in the semifinals following a disappointing 0-0 draw against Vietnam in their final Group A match. The Garuda Muda, as the team is known, desperately needed three points to advance but could only manage a stalemate in front of their home crowd at Gelora Delta Sidoarjo on Sunday night.

This crucial result leaves the Indonesian squad in a precarious position, having already suffered a 0-1 defeat to Malaysia in their second match. Coach Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto's team struggled to break down Vietnam's organized defense, ultimately paying the price for their earlier misstep. With this outcome, Vietnam clinched the top spot in Group A with seven points, while Malaysia secured their passage to the semifinals as the best runner-up, accumulating six points after a 2-0 victory over Timor Leste.

The Indonesian team finished third in Group A with four points. This early exit from the regional championship is a bitter pill to swallow for the young squad and their passionate supporters, who had high hopes for their performance. The focus now shifts to regrouping and analyzing the shortcomings that led to this result, with the aim of building a stronger team for future tournaments. The disappointment is palpable, as the dream of lifting the ASEAN U-17 trophy has been extinguished for this generation.