Timnas Indonesia could benefit from cooler winter weather when the team travels to Saudi Arabia for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, viva.co.id reported.
The Asian Football Confederation officially shifted the tournament dates from January 2027 to a winter window running from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028. Organizers adjusted the calendar as geopolitical tensions continued across West Asia.
Matches will unfold across Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar. December and traditionally offer milder temperatures than the extreme heat of the Saudi summer.
Average December temperatures hover around 26 degrees Celsius in Jeddah and drop to about 20 degrees Celsius in Al Khobar. January brings further cooling, with averages reaching roughly 25 degrees Celsius in Jeddah and 18 degrees Celsius in Al Khobar.
Squad members currently playing professional football in Europe are already accustomed to competing through winter seasons.
At the same time, squad members based domestically in Indonesia or elsewhere in Asia will still face a transition period upon arriving in Saudi Arabia. Not every player enters the tournament with identical climate exposure.
The calendar shift also grants national teams extended preparation windows, according to National Team Body chairman Sumardji. He stated that the extra months allow coaching staff to better analyze prospective players and refine team readiness.
Indonesia faces a difficult task in Group F alongside Japan, Qatar, and Thailand. Jay Idzes and his teammates open their tournament campaign against Japan.
CNN Indonesia reported that Indonesia canceled a scheduled friendly against Jordan on November 13, 2026, after initial plans to play Kuwait in Cyprus also fell through.
Head coach John Herdman will instead run a training camp in Bali during the November FIFA window.
Vietnam faces uncertainty regarding head coach Kim Sang Sik, whose contract runs until February 2027 under the original schedule, CNN Indonesia reported.
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