Timnas Indonesia climbed to 116th in the FIFA rankings following a draw between Kazakhstan and the Faroe Islands in UEFA Nations League C 2026, Radar Cirebon reported. The movement leaves the squad one spot above Kazakhstan as mid-table competition remains exceptionally tight.
Astana Arena Stalemate Pushes Garuda Upward
Kazakhstan failed to capitalize on home-field advantage at Astana Arena on Monday night, October 6, 2026, finishing level at 2-2 against the Faroe Islands. Petur Knudsen stunned the hosts with an opening goal in the 22nd minute, and Geza David Turi doubled the visitor’s lead in the 63rd minute. Kazakhstan responded through Maliy Sergiy in the 68th minute and Nuraly Alip in the 76th minute, but the dropped points proved costly in the official FIFA calculations.
ASEAN Cup Triumph and Roster Adjustments
The rankings shift arrives alongside widespread national celebrations following Indonesia’s capture of the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. Janalokajournal.id reported that head coach John Herdman’s squad secured the regional crown by defeating Thailand 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw through 120 minutes at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Monday night, October 5, 2026. Serie A club Sassuolo publicly congratulated the team by designating them “Raja ASEAN,” while management targets European-based additions such as VVV-Venlo striker Dean Zandbergen for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers and 2030 World Cup project.
After the tenure of South Korean coach Shin Tae-yong—who laid the foundations of discipline and mental resilience in young players—the role was briefly held by Dutch legend Patrick Kluivert, who introduced a different tactical approach before Herdman took charge. Meanwhile, Dewa United Banten FC attacking midfielder Taisei Marukawa completed his naturalization files to add depth and variety to the midfield. Additionally, a left-back playing for French club Lille was scheduled to travel directly to Europe to prepare for a Champions League match against English giants Arsenal.
Academic Commitments Alongside National Glory
The final victory over Thailand also highlighted individual achievements within the squad. Muhammadiyah reported that defender Rizky Ridho Ramadhani, a student at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surabaya, entered the final as a 60th-minute substitute for Luke Vickery. Ridho delivered a late cross that created the loose ball for Elkan Baggott’s equalizing goal in regulation time, maintaining his academic commitments on his thesis while capturing international silverware.
Umsura Rector Mundakir expressed appreciation for the milestone on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, noting that the player balances international sports success with final-semester thesis responsibilities. Prestasi ini menunjukkan bahwa mahasiswa dapat berprestasi di bidang olahraga sekaligus tetap menjalankan tanggung jawabnya sebagai seorang mahasiswa,
Mundakir stated.
The Ranking Margin and What Remains Open
With Indonesia stationed at 116th and Kazakhstan holding a narrow trailing margin, officials have yet to confirm how subsequent autumn friendlies and UEFA Nations League fixtures will alter the precise point tallies ahead of the next official FIFA table release.
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