Jakarta, Indonesia – The dream of the Indonesian national football team, the Garuda squad, to reach the 2026 World Cup finals has been dashed. Following losses to Saudi Arabia (2-3) and Iraq (0-1) in the fourth round of qualification this past October, their World Cup aspirations for 2026 have come to an end. This outcome has been amplified by reports that both the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the International Football Federation (FIFA) declined to be investigated regarding the host selections for these crucial matches, a decision that some believe unfairly impacted the Indonesian team.
The recent defeats marked the conclusion of Indonesia’s journey in the current qualification phase, as they failed to secure a spot in the final round or the subsequent fifth round. The team’s performance, while disappointing, was influenced by several factors, including the venue selections. For instance, the Garuda squad faced Saudi Arabia on their home turf, a important advantage for the hosts.
This home-field advantage was also evident for Qatar in the fourth round, with both Saudi arabia and Qatar ultimately securing their places in the final round of qualification. A report by the British media outlet The Athletic, published in the New York Times, attempted to shed light on these host selections. The article, titled “Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the 2026 World Cup qualification controversy,” highlighted questions raised by journalist Jacob Whitehead regarding the decision-making process.
The Athletic reached out to both FIFA and the AFC for comment on why Saudi Arabia and Qatar were chosen as hosts. Though, both governing bodies reportedly refused to respond to the inquiries. Whitehead specifically sought explanations from FIFA concerning the criteria and evaluation process involved in the bidding for host nations. he also inquired about the rationale behind allowing matches to be played on home soil for certain teams.
Further questions were raised about the disparity in ticket allocations, particularly concerning the United Arab Emirates’ supporters receiving fewer tickets than those of Qatar. This issue of limited ticket availability for visiting fans was also experienced by Indonesian supporters during their match against Saudi Arabia. The circumstances surrounding these venue and ticketing decisions have led to scrutiny, especially given that the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers is intended to be played at neutral venues.
The dismissal of the Dutch coaching team, including Patrick Kluivert, by the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has also been a point of discussion, though the venue selection and its potential impact on the team’s performance remain a significant talking point among fans and analysts.
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Source: AFC
