Tickets for Indonesia's home game with Vietnam sold out early

The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) said all 48,000 tickets available for the 77,000-seat stadium were sold out. Another 23,000 seats are saved for guests and sponsors, and 6,000 for audiences of the guest team Vietnam, according FIFA regulations.

Ticket sale for the match, which will start at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, opened on March 7, at four prices IDR100,000, IDR200,000, IDR400,000 and IDR750,000 (US$6.35-47.63).

At the most recent match between the two teams at the AFF Cup 2022 semifinal, the stadium was only allowed to fill 50,000 seats, as a result of a stampede that left 133 people dead at Kanjuruhan Stadium in October 2022.

PSSI chairman Erick Thohir said a lot of work has been done to build Indonesia into a strong team, and thus fans' support will be very important. "We need maximum support from fans," Thohir said in a statement on PSSI's website. "Matches against Vietnam, either at home or away, are harsh."

Vietnam keeper Dang Van Lam catches the ball from Indonesia's Marselino Ferdinan (R) during a goalless draw at the AFF Cup 2022 semifinal in Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Indonesia. Photo by VnExpress/Lam Thoa

Five days after the home game, Indonesia will play Vietnam for the second leg in Hanoi's My Dinh Stadium.

Indonesia are in the bottom of group F, with one point as the Philippines but poorer goal difference. Vietnam rank second with three points, after winning 2-0 against the Philippines and losing 0-1 to Iraq in November 2023.

Coach Shin Tae-young's team aim to earn at least four points from the two matches against Vietnam to secure the group's second position and a ticket to the third qualifying round.

Gelora Bung Karno Stadium was opened for the Asian Games 1982. It is the 28th largest national stadium in the world and the eighth in Asia.