THE 2024 ASEAN Cup Group B matches are set to begin today. Myanmar national football team will play against Indonesia at the Thuwunna Youth Training Centre in Yangon at 7 pm local time. Additionally, Laos will face Vietnam at 7:30 pm Myanmar Standard Time in Vientiane’s National Sports Complex.

Team Myanmar finds itself in a challenging group, starting the tournament against Indone­sia, a formidable team currently competing in the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. Notably, Indonesia is the only ASEAN team to reach that stage and has secured victories over several top-tier Asian teams. However, due to club commitments, Indonesia will primarily rely on U-22 play­ers for this tournament.

Similarly, Myanmar faces its own challenges. Key play­ers, including defender Soe Moe Kyaw, are unavailable due to injuries.

Additionally, Hein Htet Aung, who plays for Negeri Sembilan FC in Malaysia, and striker Than Paing, represent­ing Kanchanaburi FC in Thai League 2, will miss the tour­nament as their clubs did not release them.

This match marks the first time in 16 years that Myanmar and Indonesia are meeting at the group stage of the ASEAN Cup, with their last encounter taking place in 2008. — Ko Nyi Lay/KZL