Dutch FM Says Sorry to Indonesian Fans After Kluivert's Team Loses to Saudi Arabia

1 week ago 9

October 9, 2025 | 06:44 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel offered an “apology” to Indonesian football fans following Indonesia’s 2–3 loss to Saudi Arabia in the Asian Zone Group B qualifier for the 2026 World Cup.

The match, held at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, took place in the early hours of Thursday, October 9, 2025.

Speaking at a joint press conference after a bilateral meeting with Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono in Jakarta, van Weel expressed admiration for Indonesia’s Dutch head coach, Patrick Kluivert, and acknowledged the significance of the match.

“As a Dutchman, I am very proud to see our football legend, Patrick Kluivert, contributing to the success of Indonesian sports,” van Weel said, as quoted by Antara.

He then smiled and added lightheartedly, “I realize the result might have been disappointing for Indonesia, so as a fellow Dutchman, I apologize for that.”

Despite the defeat, van Weel expressed optimism that Indonesia’s national team still has a strong chance of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. He wished the Garuda squad good luck in their upcoming matches.

Meanwhile, Indonesian head coach Patrick Kluivert commended his players’ performance despite the loss.

“The result is very disappointing, but my players fought like lions. I’m proud of their effort,” Kluivert said in a post-match press conference, according to an audio recording shared with reporters.

Kluivert noted that Indonesia started the match well, taking an early lead through a Kevin Diks penalty, but later lost control of the game. The Garuda squad struggled to maintain momentum and ultimately failed to secure any points.

The victory gave Saudi Arabia three crucial points, solidifying their position at the top of Group B, while Indonesia must regroup quickly to keep their hopes of advancing to the next round alive.

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