Indonesia suffered a significant setback in their quest for a FIFA World Cup 2026 berth, falling 3-2 to hosts Saudi Arabia in a thrilling Asian Qualifiers Round 4, Group B encounter. The narrow defeat, contested at the King Abdullah Stadium on October 8th, has significantly bolstered Saudi Arabia’s chances of securing a direct qualification spot to the North American tournament, while Indonesia’s hopes of a long-awaited return to the global football stage have been considerably diminished.
The high-stakes match was characterized by a remarkable three penalty awards. Indonesia initially took the lead in the 11th minute when defender Kevin Diks calmly converted a penalty. However, their advantage was short-lived, as Saleh Abu Al-Shamat responded for the home side just six minutes later, leveling the score. Saudi Arabia then seized control, with Al-Brikan netting twice – first from the penalty spot in the 34th minute and then from open play in the 62nd minute – to establish a commanding 3-1 lead. Indonesia mounted a late challenge, as Diks once again stepped up to convert his second penalty of the match in the 82nd minute, bringing the score to 3-2. Despite their efforts, the Dutch-Indonesian player’s brace wasn’t enough to salvage a point, and the match concluded with a victory for Saudi Arabia.
The result left Indonesian supporters and head coach Patrick Kluivert visibly disappointed, especially given that many members of the squad are professional players competing in top European leagues. Kluivert acknowledged the team’s frustration but also highlighted the absence of key players, including goalkeeper Emil Audero and left-back Calvin Verdonk, which he stated created significant gaps in the squad’s cohesion.
Conversely, the host nation, under the astute guidance of coach Herve Renard, showcased increasingly impressive form. Their youthful squad demonstrated significant improvement, a testament to an intensive preparation schedule that included numerous warm-up matches and a training camp in Europe prior to facing Indonesia.
These crucial three points have propelled Saudi Arabia into a strong position for automatic qualification to the FIFA World Cup 2026, set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For Indonesia, the sole Southeast Asian representative to reach this advanced stage of qualification, their opportunity to make a much-anticipated return to the World Cup since gaining independence from the Netherlands in 1949 now appears to be significantly reduced. Indonesia’s only previous World Cup appearance was in 1938, when they competed as the Dutch East Indies.
Indonesia’s next fixture, a critical clash against Iraq on October 11th, looms as a do-or-die encounter for Kluivert’s side, representing their final opportunity to keep their North American dream alive or secure a spot in the inter-confederation play-offs. Iraq will then conclude their Group B fixtures by hosting Saudi Arabia on October 14th.
In other Asian Qualifiers Round 4 action, Group A saw Oman draw 0-0 with hosts Qatar. Upcoming matches in Group A include Oman versus the United Arab Emirates on October 11th, and Qatar hosting the United Arab Emirates on October 14th.
Under the Asian Qualifiers format, the team finishing at the top of the standings in this fourth round will automatically secure a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026. The second-placed team will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs, while the third-placed team will be eliminated from contention.
