PSSI President 'orders' U23 Indonesia to play their best against Korea

Chủ tịch PSSI 'ra lệnh' U23 Indonesia phải thi đấu hết mình trước Hàn Quốc - Ảnh 1. — PSSI President Erick Thohir asked U23 Indonesia to play their best - Photo: PSSI

U23 Indonesia will have a decisive match with U23 Korea in the final round of Group J of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers. This result will directly affect the ticket to the final round in Saudi Arabia next year.

Currently, the "island country" team is at a disadvantage when it is ranked second in the table with 4 points, 2 points behind Korea. Therefore, a victory is a must for them to get a ticket to the final round.

To encourage the players, PSSI President Erick Thohir visited the U23 Indonesia headquarters and sent words of encouragement to the players. At the same time, the president asked them to fight with all their might to seek victory.

“Hello national U23 players. We must be ready to fight with all our might for Indonesia in the match against South Korea in the 2026 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers. We must be united, disciplined and take advantage of every opportunity. Let’s go, young Garuda,” Erick Thohir shared on Instagram.

He also asked coach Gerald Vanenburg's team not to miss scoring opportunities, as happened in the first match with Laos when they drew 0-0.

The 2026 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers are divided into 11 groups. The top team in each group will qualify directly for the finals.

In addition, the four best second-placed teams will also qualify. U23 Indonesia is currently ranked fifth in the second-placed teams table with four points.

If they lose to South Korea, the chance of the “island of thousands” team to win a ticket as one of the four best second-placed teams in the group will end. Because Yemen - the fourth-placed team in the second-placed teams - has 6 points.

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THANH DINH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chu-tich-pssi-ra-lenh-u23-indonesia-phai-thi-dau-het-minh-truoc-han-quoc-20250907200318491.htm