Indonesia was unfairly treated before the crucial match for a ticket to the 2026 World Cup, Coach Kluivert was upset.

The Indonesian team is about to enter a crucial match for the chance to win a ticket to the 2026 World Cup against host Saudi Arabia at 0:15 on October 9. Coach Kluivert is very upset with Garuda's many disadvantages.

Indonesian team was played dirty by host Saudi Arabia?

According to CNN Indonesia, Garuda (nickname of the Indonesian team) is the team with the most disadvantageous travel itinerary among the three teams in Group B of the fourth qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia, when coach Kluivert and his team have to spend a lot of time traveling between the hotel and the training ground because it is very far, as well as the distance to the competition venue King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah is up to 40 km.

Coach Kluivert was upset when the Indonesian team faced many disadvantages before the crucial match with host Saudi Arabia.

Photo: Reuters

Meanwhile, the Iraqi team staying at the Marriott hotel traveled only 21 km to King Abdullah Sports City stadium, and the host team Saudi Arabia stayed at the Shangri-La hotel and traveled only about 20 km to the stadium.

Traveling further than other teams, while the time between 2 matches is only 3 days (72 hours), including the time immediately after the match, recovery and re-match, has put the Indonesian team under a lot of pressure to race against time.

Indonesian press has criticized the organizing committee of the host country Saudi Arabia for pressuring the team from the archipelago and intentionally doing so to exhaust the opponent, causing a disadvantage right before the crucial match on the opening day of the fourth qualifying round.

However, according to the Saudi Arabian newspaper, Arriyadiyah , the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) had proposed that the Indonesian team stay at a hotel that was more convenient for travel, but they refused and chose the Park Hyatt hotel after directly checking the conditions, which is up to 40 km away from King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.

Despite the unfavorable conditions, coach Kluivert, although very frustrated, said: "We have fully prepared for this match (against Saudi Arabia), and I will not make any excuses, whatever the reason. We had some players arrive late from Europe, but that is not the problem. We see this match as a final, and will do everything to achieve the best result. We also have to put aside any worries or disadvantages, and believe that we will play as strongly as possible."

The Indonesian team is the sole representative of the Southeast Asian region in the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Asia.

Photo: Reuters

Coach Kluivert also expressed confusion when the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) refused to replace Kuwaiti referee Ahmed Al-Ali to officiate the match.

He said: "We were very surprised that this Kuwaiti referee was appointed to officiate the match, and we were also quite surprised that they (AFC) did not change the decision despite a reasonable proposal from the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI). However, our focus is still on the match on the field. We are not afraid of this match. I have full confidence in my team. We are used to playing in an unfavorable atmosphere like this."

Regarding the absence of No. 1 goalkeeper Emil Audero, Coach Kluivert believes in the replacement, goalkeeper Maarten Paes, who can help the Indonesian team firmly protect their goal. Maarten Paes is also the goalkeeper who started in the match where Indonesia drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on September 5, 2024, in the opening match of the third qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup.

In the fourth qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia, with 2 groups of 3 teams each, playing a round-robin, only the top team in each group will qualify for the final round in the US, Mexico and Canada next summer. The second-placed teams will still have the opportunity to compete in the play-off round and the intercontinental play-off round. The bottom team will be eliminated.

According to the data statistics firm Opta, the Indonesian team has the lowest chance among the 6 Asian teams participating in the fourth qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup. Accordingly, the team from the archipelago is assessed to have only a 7% chance based on results, achievements and performance of the players. The team with the highest rate is Saudi Arabia with 62%, followed by Qatar (host in Group A) with 48%, Iraq ranked 3rd with 31%, UAE with 29% and Oman with 23% (both of these teams are in Group A with Qatar).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/indonesia-bi-xu-ep-truoc-tran-song-con-tranh-ve-world-cup-2026-hlv-kluivert-buc-xuc-1852510080846183.htm