Indonesian National Team to Play Trial Matches Against Kuwait and Lebanon

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - General Chairperson of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Erick Thohir, stated that the Indonesian national team will play two friendly matches before the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. The team under Patrick Kluivert's guidance will play Kuwait and Lebanon.

The Indonesian national team still has a chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup through the fourth round of qualifiers, which will be held on FIFA Matchday in October 2025. Ahead of the fourth round, Indonesia has a friendly match scheduled on the FIFA Matchday in September 2025. "So (friendly matches against Kuwait and Lebanon in) September (2025)," said Erick after attending the press conference for the 2025 President's Cup.

The Indonesian national team will not conduct training matches in Jakarta. The friendly matches for the Garuda squad will likely take place at Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium in Surabaya, East Java. This stadium was previously an alternative home venue for the Indonesian team in the 2024 AFF Cup. "Insya Allah, both matches will be in Surabaya," he said.

In the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, Indonesia is placed in pot three. The draw will take place on July 17, 2025. Apart from Garuda, the participating teams will include the national teams of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, and Oman. The six teams will be divided into two groups during the drawing.

Each group will consist of three teams, and the matches will be played in a centralized manner. FIFA had previously decided that Saudi Arabia and Qatar would be the hosts. Only the group winners will qualify for the final round of the 2026 World Cup, while the runners-up of each group will compete in the fifth round of qualifiers in the Asian zone. The winners will advance to the intercontinental playoff round against representatives from Africa (CAF), Latin America (CONMEBOL), Oceania (OFC), as well as North, Central, and Caribbean America (CONCACAF).

Editor's Choice: Frank van Kempen Appointed Head Coach of Indonesia U-20 National Team

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

Indonesia's Palm Oil Exports Decline

23 menit lalu

Prabowo Attends First BRICS Summit After Indonesia Becomes Member

3 jam lalu

China Records $73.8 Billion Import to Indonesia, Up 16.51 Percent in 2024

3 jam lalu

BRICS Summit Produces Rio Declaration, Calls for Global Governance Reform

4 jam lalu

Inside the 2025 BRICS Summit in Brazil: What You Need to Know

12 jam lalu

Mochizuki Speaks Out on Indonesian Women's National Team Elimination in 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers

1 hari lalu

Real Madrid and PSG Qualify for 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Semifinals

1 hari lalu

Prabowo Lands in Brazil to Join BRICS Summit

1 hari lalu

Frank van Kempen Appointed Head Coach of Indonesia U-20 National Team

1 hari lalu

IDX Reports 17 Million Investors in Indonesia's Capital Market

1 hari lalu