Shin Tae-yong’s decision to field the U-22s for Indonesia’s 2024/25 AFF Championship could set the tone for future editions of the tournament – either the AFF Championship would provide the opportunity to the fringe players of Southeast Asia to prove themselves worthy for that step-up to their respective national team, or FIFA will be convinced to add the tournament into their calendar so that clubs, especially those from outside the region, are inclined to send their players to their respective national teams, thus allowing the strongest sides to compete.
Indonesia’s decision to send the U-22s to the AFF Championship was based on several key factors. Firstly, with most of the Timnas Garuda‘s key players plying their trade abroad, their clubs might be reluctant to allow them to report for national team duty due to the AFF Championship being outside the FIFA calendar.
Secondly, this will give Indonesia the perfect opportunity to regenerate their current crop of talent, with the likes of Hokky Caraka, Pratama Arhan, and Marselino Ferdinan having already gained valuable experience playing within the ranks of the senior national team despite being 22 years old and under. It was expected that the trio would form the backbone of the current Indonesia U-22 side, sharing their experience with those who had graduated from the U-19 and other lower age group national teams – the likes of Arkhan Kaka, Dony Tri Pamungkas, Muhammad Ferrari, Arkhan Fikri and more.
And thirdly, the 2024/25 AFF Championship would provide Tae-yong with the perfect opportunity to form his squad for the upcoming 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, without disturbing the current senior team who are being focused for both the 2024 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as well as the 2026 AFC Asian Cup.
Naysayers such as Malaysian football pundit Zakaria Rahim and Vietnam news portal Soha.vn – a frequent critic of Indonesian football – may point out that Indonesia is underestimating the AFF Championship by sending in the youths, but in fairness, the tournament’s insignificant standing within the FIFA calendar has invited the criticism of those who saw a bigger picture for the development of football within ASEAN.
Johor Darul Ta’zim owner Tunku Ismail Idris is a frequent critic of how call-ups for the Malaysia national team has often disrupted JDT’s quest of conquering the Liga Super Malaysia and continental competitions, and since 2022 has refused to allow his players to represent the Harimau Malaya in the AFF Championship, citing that they would be overworked should they represent Malaysia in the tournament.
And indeed despite Malaysia calling some notable names such as Paulo Josue, Syafiq Ahmad, Dominic Tan and Darren Lok, the Harimau Malaya were without the services of JDT star Arif Aiman, arguably Malaysia’s best player right now. JDT were only willing to send reserve players Gunalan Pavithran, Najmuddin Akmal, and Darryl Sham into the Malaysia squad, with hopes that the trio could gain valuable experience from the tournament.
Clubs in the V.League 1 often found their momentum being halted abruptly by lengthy training camps held by the Vietnam national team and this year was no exception to the rule, with the 2024/25 V.League 1 season taking an almost month-long break for the tournament.
Meanwhile, Thailand are also taking a page out of the Tae-yong book of squad selection, as the Changsuek have made the decision to leave behind heavy hitters Teerasil Dangda, Chanathip Songkrasin, Theerathon Bunmathan, Sasalak Haiprakhon, Elias Dolah, Sarach Yooyen, and Supachai Chaided at home, instead building their squad around Supachok Sarachat, Ekanit Panya, and Suphanat Mueanta, as well as calling up youngsters Ben Davies, Jonathan Khemdee, William Weidersjo, and Teerasak Poeiphimai.
Indeed, with the current state of the AFF Championship, countries are slowly taking more priorities towards qualification towards either the World Cup or the Asian Cup over regional glory. Unless FIFA are willing to put the AFF Championship within their calendar and placing it within the available international breaks, expect more nations to slowly take example from Tae-yong and field fledging players who are seeking to carve their way into their national team.