Prabowo Watches Indonesia vs Thailand Clash at GBK

Prabowo Attends Indonesia-Thailand FIFA ASEAN Cup Final at GBK

Tempatdonasi.com – President Prabowo Subianto arrived at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium on Monday evening to watch Indonesia face Thailand in the final of the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup.

The President reached the stadium at approximately 7:55 p.m. local time, shortly before the scheduled 8 p.m. kickoff. His appearance placed him among senior national and international football figures attending the decisive match of the tournament.

Prabowo wore a white jacket carrying the word “Indonesia” across the back. He arrived in a Maung tactical vehicle and was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

At the stadium, the President was welcomed by Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir, who is also chairman of the Football Association of Indonesia, or PSSI. National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto was also present for the final.

A Major Night for Indonesian Football

The Indonesia-Thailand match brought together the winners of the competition’s two group stages. Indonesia finished first in Group A, while Thailand topped Group B, setting up a final between two sides that had successfully navigated their respective paths through the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup.

For Indonesia, the route to the title match was sealed with a commanding 9-2 win over Bangladesh in its final Group A fixture. The result proved especially significant because it gave Indonesia a better goal difference than Malaysia, allowing the team to finish at the top of the group.

Thailand had secured its final place earlier through victories over Pakistan and Vietnam. Although Thailand later suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Philippines in its last Group B match, the team remained group leader and advanced to meet Indonesia.

The final at Gelora Bung Karno therefore represented more than a single evening of football. It was the concluding match of the first FIFA ASEAN Cup, with both finalists arriving after contrasting but successful group-stage campaigns.

FIFA President Joins Closing Ceremony

FIFA President Gianni Infantino was already at the stadium ahead of the match, alongside Erick Thohir, to attend the tournament’s closing ceremony. His visit to Indonesia was connected to the final and the event’s official conclusion.

Earlier in the day, Prabowo met Infantino and Erick at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. The gathering came before the President traveled to the stadium for the evening final.

Erick said that Infantino had personally invited Prabowo to attend the Indonesia-Thailand match at Gelora Bung Karno. The invitation linked the presidential appearance with the broader FIFA presence around the tournament’s final day.

Gelora Bung Karno, commonly referred to as GBK, provided the setting for a match involving Indonesia’s national team and one of the region’s strongest footballing competitors. The stadium’s role as host also placed Jakarta at the center of the tournament’s closing events.

Indonesia’s Group-Stage Momentum

Indonesia entered the final after producing one of the tournament’s most emphatic scorelines. The 9-2 victory over Bangladesh was not only a high-scoring result but also a key factor in the standings, as goal difference determined Indonesia’s advantage over Malaysia in Group A.

That finish gave Indonesia the opportunity to contest the championship in front of a home crowd. The final against Thailand offered the team a chance to complete a campaign that had included a decisive final group match and a successful push for first place.

Thailand arrived with its own record of important wins. Victories over Pakistan and Vietnam had already put the side in a strong position before its final group contest against the Philippines. Despite the loss in that match, Thailand retained first place in Group B and earned its place in the final.

The two teams’ progress illustrated the format of the competition: group results set the final pairing, with Indonesia emerging from Group A and Thailand from Group B. Their meeting at GBK closed the first edition of the tournament under FIFA.

Closing the Inaugural Tournament

The 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup marked a new chapter for the regional competition as its first edition under FIFA. The championship match was accompanied by a closing ceremony attended by FIFA’s president, Indonesian football officials, government representatives, and security leaders.

Prabowo’s attendance underscored the national attention surrounding the final. His arrival shortly before kickoff coincided with the buildup to a match that placed Indonesia on home soil against Thailand for the trophy.

With the teams having won their groups through different routes, the final brought together Indonesia’s high-scoring finish against Bangladesh and Thailand’s earlier victories over Pakistan and Vietnam. The contest was set to decide the first champion of the FIFA ASEAN Cup era.