Maarten Paes Targets FIFA ASEAN Cup Glory with Indonesia in 2026
Indonesia goalkeeper Maarten Paes has set his sights on winning the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup on home soil, describing a regional title as the ideal way to reward the national team’s supporters and prepare for the AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
What changed for the club
Paes believes the experiences of his career, including spells in the Eredivisie and MLS with FC Dallas, have changed his outlook. The goalkeeper said he has grown substantially through those stages and now places team success above personal recognition.
“Everything that has happened in my career has happened for a reason,” Paes said. “I’ve grown and matured a lot because of it.”
His priority is to help his side win at both club and international level. Paes said that individual ego no longer carries the same importance, with his focus now on making the strongest possible contribution to the team.
Daily training in the Johan Cruyff Arena environment, alongside Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, has further reinforced that mentality. Paes is also competing with Emil Audero for Indonesia’s No. 1 position under head coach John Herdman, but he regards the contest as beneficial rather than personal.
“The better the competition you face, the more it pushes you to become the best version of yourself,” he said. Paes added that Indonesia winning matters more than whether he or Audero starts in goal.
Competition context
Indonesia will host Division 1 of the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup, with Malaysia, Singapore and Bangladesh awaiting Herdman’s squad in the group stage.
Paes sees the tournament as significant beyond Indonesia’s own ambitions, believing it can improve standards throughout Southeast Asian football. His immediate objective, however, is clear: lift the trophy in front of the home support that has strengthened his connection with the country.
“For me, the goal is to win the trophy,” Paes said. “I’d love to lift the title in front of our own supporters and repay them for all the support they’ve given us over the past few years.”
- Host nation: Indonesia
- Competition: 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup, Division 1
- Group opponents: Malaysia, Singapore and Bangladesh
- Head coach: John Herdman
What is scheduled next
The ASEAN Cup gives Herdman an important opportunity to settle his plans before Indonesia travel to Saudi Arabia for January’s AFC Asian Cup. Paes wants the side to use a successful home tournament as a platform for that larger continental challenge.
“The first goal is to win the trophy here and build a really positive feeling going into the Asian Cup,” Paes said.
A title would provide Indonesia with momentum before January, while also giving Paes and Audero further opportunity to compete for the starting role in Herdman’s squad.
