Indonesia’s dreams of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended on Saturday as Patrick Kluivert’s side slipped to a narrow 1-0 loss against Iraq in Jeddah, leaving the Merah Putih with no chance of progressing from Group B of the fourth round of Asia’s preliminaries.
A 76th minute goal by second half substitute Zidane Iqbal secured the three points for the Iraqis and, coupled with Wednesday’s 3-2 loss against Saudi Arabia, Indonesia are left at the bottom of the three-team standings with Iraq and Saudi Arabia due to face off on Tuesday.
“I think if you look at the game we were by far the better team,” said a crestfallen Kluivert. “I’m very disappointed about the result and not only me but the whole country, the players, the staff.
“We worked hard, playing on the 8th against Saudi and then three days later, it was a great recovery to play another tough game.
“We performed fantastic today. I’m very proud of the players, who showed their heart, their courage but unfortunately the result again was not on our side while creating chances and playing very good football. With one action you lose the game. We are devastated.”
Indonesia had dominated the first half without making their superiority pay against a lacklustre Iraqi side listed 60 places above Kluivert’s side in the current FIFA rankings.
But the introduction of Iqbal at halftime helped swing the game in Iraq’s favour, with the former Manchester United midfielder punishing an earlier mistake by Rizky Ridho to beat Maarten Paes with a low shot into the bottom corner.
Indonesia pushed for the equaliser but to no avail, even though Iraq defender Zaid Tahseen’s late sending off for a second bookable offence gave the Southeast Asians hope until the final whistle.
“We worked hard as a team, medical staff, local staff, players, everyone really worked hard for this,” said Kluivert. “All the results that we had, good and bad results, I think we grew as a team individual and collectively.
“The World Cup dream slips away through your hands. The disappointment, of not only me but the whole country of Indonesia, is really tough. It’s really tough.”
Kluivert dismissed suggestions that the team’s relative youth and lack of experience had cost them against more wily opponents.
“They’re not too young,” he said. “They showed, the way they played was fantastic, that they can play like this against Saudi, against Iraq who are 58th and 59th in the world ranking and we are 118.
“That’s the reality and you play like this with such a diverse team. I am, as a head coach, I’m very proud of them, if you can show your heart like this. Unfortunately the goals are not coming when you create the chances and you play good football.”
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