The Defeat Of The Indonesian National Team From China Is Not The End

JAKARTA - The Indonesian national team lost their first defeat in Group C of the Third Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification while visiting Chinese headquarters.

Shin Tae-yong's team gave up 1-2 at the Qingdao Youth Football Stadium on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, WIB night.

The defeat made the Garuda Squad stuck in fifth place in Group C with three points.

However, Shin Tae-yong hopes that his troops will not be late in the defeat. He is determined to bring the Garuda Squad to rise in the next 2026 World Cup Qualification match.

"This (the defeat against China) is not the end of everything. The Indonesian national team will prepare for the next match in a much better condition," said Shin Tae-yong after the match against China.

In total, Indonesia still has six remaining matches in the Third Round of 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

Two of the parties will be held this year, to be precise November 2024. The Garuda squad will host Japan on November 15, 2024, and Saudi Arabia on November 19, 2024.

While the next four matches will be held next year, from March to June 2025.

So far, Indonesia's opportunity to fight for tickets for the 2026 World Cup finals is still wide open.

The five teams under the top of the Japanese standings have the most five points, namely Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain which are on the second to fourth stairs.

Then, Indonesia and China, which are in fifth place and sixth place, have collected three points.

Only Japan is unbeaten in four matches. Samurai Blue packed 10 points from three wins and one draw.