Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Indonesian national team Only 180 minutes or two games adrift of 2026 World Cup determined in the fourth round of qualifications. Will the dream of all the residents of the archipelago come true?
The fourth round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Asia Zone will roll on 8-14 October 2025 in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The Indonesian national team will travel to one of the countries, and face opponents from other Middle Eastern regions.
There are five candidates against the Indonesian national team in the fourth round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The five teams are: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Iraq.
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The opponents faced are not true faces for the Garuda squad. On the previous occasion, the Indonesian national team had met. Some of the results are fairly positive.
The latest is against Saudi Arabia in the third round of qualification. Indonesia is unbeaten in the last two meetings with one draw and one win at the same time becomes an important point to advance to the fourth round.
Indonesia also met Iraq in the second round. However, both ended in defeat both when they visited and at home.
Facing Oman was familiar. Although in the last meeting in an exhibition match, Indonesia lost 1-3 in 2021.
Same is the case with dealing with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates which are not new items. But the common thread, Indonesia is not dominant.
Indonesia lost more against the Middle East teams. From FIFA’s ranking, the Red and White team is in the most distended position of all six participants in the fourth round of the 2026 Asian Zone after ranking.
On paper, Indonesia is only two matches adrift of the 2026 World Cup. At first glance it looks short because ‘only’ needs two more wins to hold the 2026 World Cup ticket. But this is not an easy trip at all.
Because only group champions are entitled to get tickets to qualify directly to the World Cup next year. While the second place will continue the journey to the next phase.
Undergoing all matches with status outside the cage is clearly not an easy matter. But Indonesia’s steps are far away and the opportunity to the 2026 World Cup is very open.
Can Indonesia hit this opportunity?
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No matter how small, opportunities are still opportunities. This must be fought for by the Indonesian national team if you want to tread the World Cup.
The Indonesian national team coach, Patrick Kluivert, has a great responsibility as well as high expectations from the Garuda team supporters. Because the dream of going to the world soccer party has not disappeared after making sure the fourth round ticket.
The Indonesian national team has gone far away. The opportunity to qualify for the World Cup also did not come every time. This is the right moment.
For this reason, Kluivert needs to form a stronger team to fight for the opportunity to qualify for the World Cup. Slowly the formula of the concoction is increasingly revealed. The standard strategy of the Dutch tactician began to present a bright spot.
Four times played, twice won, and two defeats. The colorful report card would be a bright spot in question, although there were stains that needed to be cleaned.
Kluivert wants to compromise to leave the principle of four defenders who are its mainstay. The legend Ajax Amsterdam and Barcelona heard and applied suggestions from assistants to explore the needs and abilities of existing players.
In the first match Kluivert became a captain, the coach was still trying to choose players while determining the strategy. The result is that Indonesia is battered 1-5 against Australia.
Kluivert then conducts a massive evaluation, especially in the back line. Trio Rizky Ridho-Jay Idzes-Justin Hubner managed to be solid against Bahrain. Then the couple Joey Pelupessy-Thom Haye in midfield became a brilliant duet. The clinical completion of the Ole Romeny made the 1-0 victory over Bahrain so valuable.
The formation of the opponent Bahrain in March was transformed winning team that is owned by Indonesia. The back line and midfield arrangement did not change in the next two matches against China and Japan.
Similar formulas produce maximum points against China with 1-0. But this strategy does not work with Japanese opponents. Half a dozen goals nest in the goal of Emil Audero Mulyadi.
National football observer, Supriyono Prima said Kluivert must maintain the starting eleven such as opponents Bahrain and China. According to him, it is the best pattern that Indonesia has today.
On the other hand, he views the Indonesian national team still needs improvement. Midfield and front lines are the points that need to be polished to fight the Middle Eastern teams.
About Thom Haye, it is not without reason that the Indonesian national team needs a successor considering the age that has tread the head of three.
Whereas on the front lines, Indonesia needs people who can increase clinical bangs in the hope that goals can be created more. This is because the last two wins won with a thin score.
The Indonesian national team has approximately three months to clean up. Two FIFA Matchday matches in September 2025 could be a laboratory to try new things or strengthen aspects that have been coherent.
Great hope, the best results will be achieved by the Indonesian national team in the Titian to the 2026 World Cup.
