Good News From AFC: Justin Hubner Absent, Jordi Amat Allowed To Play In 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

Justin Hubner missed the first match of the Indonesian national team in the Third Round of 2026 World Cup Qualification (Instagram/@justinhubner5).

JAKARTA - The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) conveyed good news for the Indonesian national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup Qualification Third Round.

In the inaugural away match to Saudi Arabia headquarters, the AFC announced that Jordi Amat could be played by the Garuda Squad.

The meeting against Saudi Arabia will be the opening party for the Indonesian national team's journey in Group C of the 2026 World Cup Qualification on Friday 6 September 2024, at 01.00 WIB.

For that match, the AFC through a letter they released to PSSI stated that only Justin Hubner was prohibited from appearing due to the accumulation of yellow cards.

Meanwhile, Jordi Amat, who was hit by a red card against Iraq (Second Round), only underwent a ban on playing one match.

Jordi has passed the sanction, to be precise when meeting the Philippines in the final match of Group F of the Second Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification in the Asian zone.

This means that for the match against Saudi Arabia, Jordi Amat was allowed to enter the Indonesian national team squad.

"Yes, Jordi Amat can (play) there (against Saudi Arabia)," said assistant coach of the Indonesian national team, Nova Arianto, in his statement quoted on Thursday, August 15, 2024.

Nova said Justin Hubner could not defend the Indonesian national team in the match against Saudi Arabia because he had to serve a sentence. Shin Tae-yong also received this condition.

Justin Hubner has so far pocketed two yellow cards. The yellow card was obtained during the match between the Indonesian national team and Vietnam on March 21, 2024 and the Philippines (June 11, 2024).

"Only Justin (Hubner). In the letter (from AFC), only Justin is absent," said Nova again.

In the Third Round of the 2026 Asian Zone World Cup Qualification, the Indonesian National Team joined Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, China, Japan, and Australia.

The event will take place from September 5, 2024 to June 10, 2025.

The top two teams have the right to qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup. Meanwhile, the team ranked third and fourth must continue the struggle in the Fourth Round of the 2026 Asian Zone World Cup Qualifiers.