2026 Asian Futsal Cup: Indonesia-Japan Clash Scheduled for Thursday
Reporter
February 4, 2026 | 07:45 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian national futsal team made history by advancing to the semifinals of the 2026 Asian Futsal Cup. They will be up against Japan to secure a place in the final at the Indonesia Arena in Jakarta, on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 19:00 WIB (Western Indonesia Time). The match can be watched on MNC television or Vision+ streaming.
Coached by Hector Souto, the team secured its place in the final four after defeating Vietnam 3-2 in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. The three winning goals were scored by Wendy Brian Ick, Ardiansyah Nur, and Reza Gunawan.
Meanwhile, Japan advanced to the final four by defeating Afghanistan 6-0 in a match at the Jakarta International Velodrome, Jakarta, on Tuesday. The six goals were scored by Shimizu Kazuya, Shunta Uchida, Tomoki Yoshikawa, and Ryuji Izu.
In another match, Iran will meet Iraq. Iran defeated Uzbekistan 7-4 in the quarterfinals, while Iraq eliminated Thailand with a score of 4-2.
Hector Souto Aims to Reach the Final
Coach Hector Souto has set his sights high for his team in the 2026 Futsal Asian Cup, aiming to reach the finals. He revealed this after guiding the Garuda squad to the semifinals. "The target is to reach the final," he said after the quarterfinal match at the Indonesia Arena's mixed zone on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
He is undaunted by the fact that their opponent, Japan, defeated Indonesia in the 2022 Futsal Asian Cup in Kuwait with a score of 2-3. They also advanced to the semifinals with a resounding 6-0 victory over Afghanistan. "I don't know how, but I have ideas, of course," he said.
Souto stated that if his team could score first in the semifinal match, it would give them a chance to get closer to victory. "There is no other choice. This will be a battle. I hope we can compete well, maintain the match until the last minute," he said.
The Indonesia vs. Japan match in the 2026 Futsal Asian Cup semifinals will be even more exciting because of Kensuke Takahashi. The Japanese coach currently manages the national futsal team and previously coached the Garuda squad.
Semifinal Schedule of the 2026 Futsal Asian Cup
Thursday, February 5, 2026:
Iran vs. Iraq (15:00 WIB)
Indonesia vs. Japan (19:00 WIB)
Read: Indonesia Reaches 2026 Asian Futsal Cup Semifinals After Beating Vietnam
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