Jakarta Prepares to Welcome Football Fans from Across Southeast Asia
Jakarta is gearing up for a significant moment in regional sport. From September 25 to October 5, the city will co-host the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 alongside Bandung and Hong Kong, marking the first time FIFA has sanctioned a dedicated Southeast Asian football championship. For independent hospitality operators in the city, the timing is worth circling on the calendar.
What the Tournament Looks Like
The competition brings together all 11 ASEAN member nations plus three guest teams, split across two divisions. Jakarta and Bandung carry the heavier fixture load: Division 1 matches will feature Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Jakarta's Gelora Bung Karno Stadium and Bandung's Si Jalak Harupat Stadium are the designated venues for these games.
Hong Kong handles Division 2, with matches involving Laos, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste.
The Hospitality Message from the Top
PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir, who also serves as Indonesia's youth and sports minister, used a pre-tournament parade in Jakarta to set the tone for how the country should present itself. Speaking at the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout on September 13, he specifically called on Indonesian supporters to receive fans of visiting sides, including those from Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, with genuine warmth and respect.
Thohir framed hospitality not as a courtesy but as a national responsibility, saying it would demonstrate that Indonesia is a credible and welcoming co-host. He expressed confidence that Indonesian fans would support the national team in a way that keeps the atmosphere safe and comfortable for everyone attending.
The day's events included the Roll to Glory FIFA ASEAN Cup Family Parade, held during Jakarta's regular car-free day program, featuring Indonesian football legends and FIFA representatives. The parade was designed to build public enthusiasm ahead of the tournament's opening.
Why It Matters for Hosts
A ten-day international football tournament drawing supporters from at least eight competing nations in Division 1 alone represents a concentrated influx of sports tourists into Jakarta. Independent guesthouses, homestays, and boutique hotels near Gelora Bung Karno or along common transit corridors stand to benefit directly. Operators would do well to prepare multilingual check-in materials, particularly in English, Thai, Vietnamese, and Malay, and to brief staff on the tournament schedule so they can help guests navigate match days, transport options, and local dining. Given Thohir's public emphasis on hospitality as a national showcase, guests arriving for the tournament are likely to be receptive to hosts who go beyond the basics. Stocking local snack options, displaying fixture schedules, and noting nearby fan zones or viewing spots are small touches that can translate into strong reviews and repeat interest in Indonesia as a destination.
This post is published on the Qontaktly travel blog. Details were first reported by Antara News.
First reported by en.antaranews.com.