The Indonesian National Team Returned By Carter After Traveling To Australia

JAKARTA - The Indonesian national team is certain to charter planes to return from an away match to Australia in the Third Round of 2026 World Cup Qualification. This news was confirmed by the General Chairperson (Ketum) of PSSI, Erick Thohir.

Patrick Kluivert's team is scheduled to leave for Sydney on March 20, 2025. After that match, Jay Idzes and colleagues will return to Indonesia by charter.

Erick Thohir also explained the reasons behind the decision in order to keep the players in good shape.

"God willing, PSSI support for the national team on March 21, 2025, they immediately went home (from Australia) by charter plane, to prepare for the match on March 25, 2025 (against Bahrain)," said Erick Thohir in a statement while monitoring the match at Pakansari Stadium, Bogor Regency, quoted Monday, February 10, 2025.

"So on March 22, 23, and 24, 2025, they can be in maximum condition and rest. Just like the players when they came from Bahrain to China," he said again.

After visiting Australia, the Indonesian national team only had a five-day gap to prepare to host Bahrain at the Gelora Bung Karno (SUGBK) Main Stadium, Jakarta. With that short time, the condition of the players is clearly an important calculation.

Moreover, the abroad players of the Indonesian national team who have a career in Europe will also travel long distances. This will certainly have an effect on physical conditions.

"Last night I just talked about preparing for Australia (with Kluiver) because there are indeed many of our players abroad. In Europe it was only finished on 16 (March 2025), from America there was also Maarten (Paes) who traveled a long way."

"Those from Europe also travel 12 to 16 hours. So, if they depart on March 16 or 17, 2025, only until Australia on March 18, 2025."

"On March 19, 2025, we practiced and March 20, 2025 played. It was indeed a discussion that we deepened," he said.

On the agenda of the match in March 2025, the Indonesian national team has the opportunity to also be strengthened by Ole Romeny. You see, the player has officially assumed the status of an Indonesian citizen (WNI) after undergoing the oath.

The Oxford United player is only left to undergo the process of transferring the federation from KNVB to PSSI.