2026 World Cup Qualification: Indonesia Undergoes Difficult Matches, But Full Of Confidence

The Indonesian national team underwent physical training in Iraq (doc. PSSI).

JAKARTA - The 2026 Asian Zone World Cup Qualification will bring together the Indonesian versus Iraqi national team on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at 21.45 WIB, at the Basra International Stadium.

This match will be predicted to be difficult for the Garuda Team. Even so, Shin Tae-yong's team soared high confidence.

Appearing at home to the opponent did not make them shrink their guts. The motivation to maximize the inaugural match of the second round of Group F of the 2026 Asian Zone World Cup Qualification became a reference.

Just look at Egy Maulana Vikri who immediately carried out the winning mission. That belief is not without basis. He saw the effort that the team had been doing so far deserves three points.

So far, apart from undergoing preparatory training in Iraq, the Garuda Squad has also learned other ways of playing. This is an effort to reduce the strength of the hosts during clashes on the field.

We've seen previous Iraqi video matches. They were a very good team, but we came here to win," said Egy Maulana Vikri on PSSI's official website.

In addition, the Dewa United player said that the coach, Shin Tae-yong, had given directions and instructions on how to reduce Iraq's game to win three points.

He also realized that fighting the world's 68th ranked team was difficult. However, he remains optimistic that the Red and White can bring home the victory in the inaugural match of the 2026 World Cup Qualification.

"We will work hard together, work hand in hand according to the direction of the coach. The coach has told us some tactics on how to face and beat Iraq. It will be a difficult match, as I said before, but we came to win," he concluded.

Yes, Shin Tae-yong's approach was intended to get the perfect points even though there were mainstay players who were absent. Marcelino Ferdinand, who had to be absent because he was still recovering from injury.

However, that condition is not an obstacle. Shin Tae-yong has a squad in every line inhabited by quality players. In total, he brought 25 players.

Meanwhile, the hosts also looked at this match with good capital after going through the last two test matches against Jordan and Qatar in October 2023.

In both parties, Iraq, known as the Mesopotamian Lion, managed to draw in normal time.

Against Jordan (the 82nd place) and Qatar (61st place) gave Iraq a mental injection. They felt enough to face Indonesia, which was ranked 145th.

In the match against Indonesia later, Iraq will certainly field their best squad. The Mesopotamian Lion is determined to get full points at home.

The 32-year-old goalkeeper and team captain, Jalal Hassan, will be one of Iraq's mainstays. Defender Merchas Doski of FC Slovako, the club playing in Ceska's highest-level competition, will also strengthen the defense.