Football Lover Optimism At Patrick Kluiver's Performance In The Indonesian National Team

JAKARTA - The figure of Patrick Kluivert as the new coach of the Indonesian national team in the midst of the Garuda Squad's struggle to qualify for the 2026 World Cup had caused turmoil. This Dutch coach is sanctioned to be able to gain success like the previous tactician, Shin Tae-yong.

Before Kluivert arrived, Shin Tae-yong, who has been in charge of the Garuda Squad since 2020, was able to escort the team to qualify for the Third Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification. Of the six matches that have been undertaken, the Indonesian national team recorded one victory, three draws, and two defeats.

From this result, the Indonesian national team is now in third place in Group C of the Third Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification with six points.

The record is 10 points behind Japan, and one point adrift of Australia. The Indonesian national team has the same collection of points as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and China.

Armed with this record, the Indonesian national team still has the opportunity to qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup finals or through the Fourth Round. Moreover, Indonesia has a better goal difference advantage over its three competitors.

Although in an effort to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, the Indonesian national team underwent a change of coach, optimism for Indonesian football lovers for the performance of Kluivert as a new captain is also high.

One of them is as stated by a national football lover who is also a young entrepreneur from Surakarta, Sahli Himawan. He believes that the Indonesian national team, which is now under the direction of Kluiver, can appear in the 2026 World Cup.

"I appreciate the big role of PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir in realizing his big dream of appearing in the 2026 World Cup."

"I am also sure that together with Patrick Kluivert, the Indonesian National Team can qualify for the 2026 World Cup football stage," said Sahli Himawan in a statement quoted on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

In the agenda for the 2026 World Cup Qualification continued, the Indonesian national team is scheduled to meet the host Australia on March 20, 2025. Furthermore, the Red and White Team will host Bahrain in Jakarta on March 25, 2025.

Then in the period June 2025, Jay Idzes and colleagues will host China on June 5, 2025 and visit Japan to play the final match on June 10, 2025.

Later, the top two teams from each group will be entitled to direct tickets to the 2026 World Cup finals which will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Meanwhile, the third and fourth place residents will compete again in the Fourth Round to compete for two tickets.

"I am optimistic that Indonesia can qualify directly for the main round of the 2026 World Cup or sit in the top two of Group C. If this happens, Indonesia will first appear in the World Cup," said Sahil.

Marteen Paes and colleagues are believed to continue to develop during the Patrick Kluivert era to create history of appearing for the first time on stage of the World Cup.