Beat Vietnam 3-0, Jokowi Congratulates Garuda Squad

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) congratulated the General Chair of the All-Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Erick Thohir after the victory of the Indonesian football national team over Vietnam 3-0 in the 2026 World Cup qualifying match, Tuesday 26 March.

After the match, President Jokowi immediately called Erick Thohir to congratulate him.

"Congratulations, convey it to others," said President Jokowi in a conversation via telephone, according to an official statement from the Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat received in Jakarta, Wednesday, March 27 morning.

President Jokowi watched the match together with a number of ministers and equipment attached to the hotel where he spent the night in Palu City, Central Sulawesi (Central Sulawesi).

President Jokowi's visit to Central Sulawesi was to inaugurate a number of public transportation infrastructures to distribute food aid.

In the match which was held at My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam, the Garuda squad opened the scoring in the 9th minute through a goal scored by Jay Idzes. He managed to head the ball into the Vietnam goal using Thom Haye's corner.

The Indonesian national team doubled their lead in the 23rd minute through a goal scored by Ragnar Oratmangoen. He dribbled into Vietnam's penalty box before firing a hard shot with his left foot. The 2-0 score lasted until halftime.

Goals from Ramadhan Sananta in the 90+8 minute complemented the historic victory of the Indonesian national team over Vietnam. Sananta managed to snatch the ball from Egy Maulana Vikri's header which hit the post to break into the opponent's goal.

This match is the first victory for the Indonesian national team at home to Vietnam since 20 years ago. At that time, the Garuda squad defeated the hosts 3-0 in the 2004 Tiger Cup group stage, precisely on December 11, 2004.

Also accompanying President Jokowi while watching the match were Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, and Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman.