TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, head coach of the Indonesia national under-17 football team, is finalizing preparations for the upcoming 2026 AFF U-17 Championship and plans to call up three overseas-based players to strengthen his squad.
Kurniawan said the players are part of Indonesia’s diaspora and currently play in England, Australia, and New Zealand. However, he has not disclosed their identities.
“Starting next week, we will invite three diaspora players to join the Indonesia U-17 national team,” Kurniawan said after the tournament group draw at the SCTV Tower in Senayan, Jakarta on Friday, March 6, 2026.
He noted that the arrival of the player based in England could face logistical challenges because most flight routes to Indonesia pass through the Middle East.
“The player from England may face issues related to flight routes because they usually transit through the Middle East, and we are currently seeking a solution,” the coach said.
Meanwhile, the players from Australia and New Zealand are expected to travel without major obstacles and could join the squad soon. Kurniawan expressed hope that they would strengthen the team’s performance.
The Indonesia U-17 side, known as Garuda Muda, will compete as hosts in Group A alongside Vietnam national under-17 football team, Malaysia national under-17 football team, and Timor-Leste national under-17 football team.
Matches will be held from April 11 to 23 at Gelora Joko Samudro Stadium in Gresik and Gelora Delta Stadium in Sidoarjo, both in East Java.
The 2026 tournament will mark Kurniawan’s debut as head coach of the Garuda Muda squad after being appointed by the Football Association of Indonesia to replace Nova Arianto, who has been assigned to coach the Indonesia national under-20 football team.
Nova was still present on the sidelines when Indonesia played two friendly matches against China national under-17 football team on February 8 and 11. The matches served as an early evaluation for the team as preparations continue under Kurniawan.
The AFF U-17 Championship will also serve as a warm-up for the 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup, which will be held in Saudi Arabia in May.
As part of the preparations, Kurniawan has called up 42 players for a training camp in Yogyakarta starting February 23. The former assistant coach of Como 1907 now faces limited time to finalize his squad and address the team’s weaknesses ahead of the regional tournament.
Read: Indonesia Grouped with Malaysia for AFF U-17 Cup 2026
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google New
