The Indonesian national team had to acknowledge the superiority of the Chinese national team, losing 1-2 in their fourth match of the third round of Group C of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers for Asia, held at Qingdao Youth Football Stadium on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

The goals for China were scored by Behram Abduweli and Zhang Yuning, while Indonesia's lone goal came from Thom Haye in the dying minutes of the match. This result did not significantly change Indonesia's position in the temporary Group C standings, as they remained in fifth place with 3 points, narrowly ahead of China, which also has 3 points. Japan continues to lead the standings with 10 points after drawing against Australia.

First Loss for Indonesia

For the first time in six matches, the Indonesian national team had to concede to their opponents. The unbeaten record they had achieved earlier could not be maintained after facing China. The home team's victory, wearing red jerseys, ended the dominance of the white jerseys that have long characterized the Indonesian national team’s appearance.

Before losing to China, Indonesia had recorded a five-match unbeaten streak while wearing their white jerseys. This white jersey, which seemed to symbolize good fortune, began with convincing victories over Vietnam and the Philippines in the second round of qualification. In the third round, the Indonesian national team managed to secure three draws against strong teams such as Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Bahrain.

Scenarios for Indonesia's World Cup Entry

Despite facing significant challenges, Indonesia still has a chance to advance to the 2026 World Cup. Currently, Indonesia is in fifth place in Group C, only two points behind the three teams above them.

The competition in Group C is fierce, with five teams trailing Japan by just two points. Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, occupying second to fourth positions, each have 5 points, making the race for a direct ticket to the World Cup increasingly competitive.

The remaining six matches will determine the fate of the Garuda team, which still has a great opportunity if they can achieve optimal results in the upcoming games.

Indonesia will face two major challenges in their matches against Japan on November 15 and Saudi Arabia on November 19 in Jakarta. These two matches will be crucial tests for coach Shin Tae-yong in crafting the best strategy for his team. Japan, currently at the top of the standings with 10 points, remains unbeaten so far, while the competition below them is still very open.

If Japan continues to dominate at the top, Indonesia's main focus will be to secure the runner-up position. Achieving maximum results in the remaining matches will be key to their success.

Asia's Fourth Round or Play-Off Chances for Indonesia

If Indonesia fails to finish first or second in Group C of the third qualification round, they still have a chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup through the third or fourth place rankings. Teams finishing in these positions will advance to the fourth round of qualification.

In that round, the six countries that finish in third and fourth place from each group will be divided into two groups. Each group winner will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the runners-up will advance to the fifth round to compete in the playoffs.

To qualify, Indonesia must win their group in the fourth round. This route provides additional opportunities for teams that failed in the earlier rounds to continue fighting for a place in the World Cup.

Last Opportunity for Indonesia

If Indonesia finishes in second place in the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, the team will need to go through the playoff round to secure the remaining ticket. In the fifth round, the two group runners-up from the fourth round will compete for a spot in the FIFA playoff tournament.

This tournament involves six teams from various confederations competing for the last two spots in the 2026 World Cup. Indonesia must successfully win one of those two tickets to qualify for the World Cup.