Indonesia Faces Saudi Arabia in Crucial World Cup Qualifier

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Indonesia will take on Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, October 8, at 8:15 PM local time at the Alinma Bank Stadium, as part of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifiers for the FIFA 2026 World Cup.

This match is part of the fourth round of qualifiers, where six teams are vying for a spot in next summer’s tournament set to be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Despite the pressure, Indonesia’s coach Patrick Kluivert has encouraged his players to remain focused and not be intimidated by the hostile crowd expected at the sold-out stadium. “I’m not afraid because if you’re afraid, you show your weakness,” said Kluivert. “We need to be calm and sharp as we represent a nation of 280 million people.”

In previous rounds, Indonesia managed to secure their place in this stage by narrowly defeating China 1-0, while Saudi Arabia fell to Australia 2-1 in their final group match, missing out on automatic qualification.

Both teams are aware of the stakes involved: the top team from each of the two groups in this round will qualify directly for the World Cup, and the second-placed teams will face off in two-legged playoffs for another chance to advance.

Saudi Arabia’s coach, Herve Renard, expressed confidence in his team’s ability to perform despite past setbacks against Indonesia. “I think we have made very good improvements. We are more confident and stronger than before,” he said.

The match kicks off a series of critical fixtures for both teams, with Indonesia looking to make their first World Cup appearance since independence in 1949. Fans around the region are eager to see which side will take a step closer to the coveted tournament next year.