[1][2] Based on previous records, Indonesia had reached the AFF Championship final four times (2000, 2002, 2004 and 2010), finishing runners-up in all attempts.

Thailand was first crowned champions of ASEAN in the 1996 that was held in Singapore with a final score of 1–0 against Malaysia.

[5][6] Having just ended the crisis, Indonesia's perpetration was in total disarray and thus they had to take back their old boss, Alfred Riedl, to manage the team and fix the messes.

Both Indonesia and Thailand were drawn into Group A of the 2016 AFF Championship, along with powerhouse sides Philippines and Singapore.

In the first-leg in Bogor, Indonesia won 2–1 before drawing 2–2 in the extra time in the second-leg in Hanoi with a total aggregate of 4–3.

Man of the Match: Stefano Lilipaly (Indonesia) Assistant referees:[10] Yagi Akane (Japan) Shinji Ochi (Japan) Fourth official:[10] Takuto Okabe (Japan) Man of the Match: Chanathip Songkrasin (Thailand) Assistant referees:[14] Ahmed Yousuf Al-Hammadi (United Arab Emirates) Hassan Al-Mahri (United Arab Emirates) Fourth official:[14] Yaqoub Al-Hammadi (United Arab Emirates) Thailand won 3–2 on aggregate.