Shin Tae-yong Can Make The Best Squad For The Third Round Of 2026 World Cup Qualification

The Indonesian national team will have the best squad in the Third Round of 2026 World Cup Qualification (VOI/Ferry Tri Adi).

The draw for the 2026 World Cup Third Round of the Asian Zone was completed on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at the AFC headquarters, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Indonesian national team that inhabits Pot 6 aka the most distended is in Group C with Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and China.

This time, the Indonesian national team can get a squad to the maximum unlike the previous commotion. You see, PSSI and PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB) have sat down together to harmonize the schedule for the Garuda league and squad.

This means that Shin Tae-yong can call at will, according to the criteria, and best for the Indonesian national team. All clubs whose players are asked by the South Korean coach will definitely release.

"That's why we at PSSI arranged with PT LIB for the schedule for the next three years so that the preparation agenda for the Indonesian national team and its players to the World Cup Qualification can synergize with each other," said Erick Thohir, Chairman of PSSI.

As a consequence, the club's best players must be released to the Indonesian national team, PSSI and PT LIB agreed to provide flexibility for the number of foreign players for the League 1 team.

Liga 1 clubs may recruit eight foreign players with a note that only six can be played simultaneously on the field.

In addition, PSSI also asked clubs to support local players, especially those who are subscribed to the Indonesian national team, to continue polishing their abilities.

The federation confirmed that the addition of foreign player quotas actually made local players lose playing minutes.

"PSSI and the League have provided flexibility to the club in terms of being allowed to sign eight foreign players, with six playing and two reserves."

"The policy should not immediately turn off the playing hours of the Indonesian national team players at the club. Players with the status of the Indonesian national team still have to get priority because in the end they improve the quality of the Garuda squad," said Erick again.

The synergy of the competition schedule and the Indonesian national team is also in line with the agenda of foreign clubs where several Garuda squad players play.

So, Shin Tae-yong no longer needs to worry about signing players. He can form the best squad for the agenda of the Indonesian national team in the future.

"We will call on the best players who are certainly proud to defend Indonesia in the international arena."

"I hope four days before the 2026 World Cup Qualification match, the players have joined."

"So, coaches and players have more time to prepare the team. There is no more reason. We want the best for this golden opportunity," said Erick.

Apart from that, the Indonesian national team is in a tough group with other Asian giants. However, the Garuda Squad does not need to be pessimistic.

"It must be admitted that Indonesia is in a tough group. I just ask the coach and the Indonesian national team not to slack off."

"Remember, the ball is round and there is a lot of history how the team is not seeded to make a surprise. Just look at the 2024 European Cup, how is the work of Austria or Georgia. So, keep fighting even in the tough group," said Erick Thohir.

For information, the Third Round of the 2026 Asian Zone Qualification World Cup is divided into three groups. Champions and runners-up of each group will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup which will be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

The Indonesian national team is clearly eyeing the top two to make history.

In addition to the qualified route through the Third Round of Qualification, there is actually another way, namely the Fourth Round.

In the Fourth Round of Qualification, there were two groups containing six teams from third and fourth place in the Third Round. Each group winner automatically qualified for the 2026 World Cup.

One last route to the 2026 World Cup is the Fifth Round of Qualification. However, the Asian team that enters this route will compete for one ticket with another, CAF (Africa), Conmebol (South America), OFC (Oseania), and Concacaf (Central America, North, and Caribbean).