Naturalized star playing in England injured, Indonesia at risk of losing trump card

(NLDO) - Oxford United striker Ole Romeny is likely to miss the 4th qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup with the Indonesian team due to injury.

In the match between Oxford United (EFL Championship, the division below the Premier League) and Arema FC in the Piala Presiden 2025 tournament on July 10, Ole Romeny suffered a serious ankle injury after a fierce tackle by Brazilian player Paulinho of the Indonesian club.

The striker born in 2000 was forced to leave the field on a stretcher, and Paulinho later apologized directly but still received much criticism and anger from fans of the archipelago.

Romeny Situation: 3 Things You Need to Know Now!

Speaking to the media, Mr. Sumardji, the coach of the Indonesian team, said that Romeny's situation is worrying. "It's difficult. Just pray that he can play in the 4th round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. We will update more about his injury.

September still seems difficult to return, if in October I have more hope" - Coach Sumardji shared.

Ole Romeny (red shirt, left) is likely to miss the 4th qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup

Ole Romeny is considered an important factor for the Indonesian team thanks to his experience playing in England and his speedy, technical playing style. If he is truly absent, it will greatly affect the ambition of the archipelago team to go far in the campaign to win a ticket to the 2026 World Cup.

Oxford United's medical team and the Indonesian national team are currently working together to closely monitor Romeny's condition and develop a treatment plan to help him return to the field soon.

In the 4th qualifying round of the World Cup, the AFC surprisingly announced that the qualifying round would be held at a neutral venue and transferred the hosting rights to Qatar and Saudi Arabia, two direct rivals of Indonesia. This means that Coach Kluivert's team will have to compete in unfavorable conditions, both geographically and in terms of audience pressure.

According to the schedule, Indonesia will enter the qualifying round from October 8 to 14, facing strong teams including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq and Oman.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/sao-nhap-tich-thi-dau-o-anh-chan-thuong-indonesia-nguy-co-mat-at-chu-bai-196250716140456405.htm