Indonesian National Team Cancels Facing Malaysia, Votes Against Russia, Kazakhstan, And Uzbekistan

- Indonesian National Team (@ timnasindonesia)

JAKARTA The plan for a friendly match between the Indonesian and Malaysian national teams on the FIFA Matchday September 2025 agenda has been canceled.

Instead, the Garuda Squad has the opportunity to face three countries with higher competitive rankings: Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

The cancellation of the match against Malaysia occurred after the opposing party did not respond to the proposed match offer. Responding to this, PSSI moved quickly to find alternatives against trials that were considered more challenging and beneficial for the development of the team.

Russian media, Voice of Russia, reported that the Indonesian football federation is currently in intensive communication with football federations from Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The trial match is planned to take place in the FIFA international window in September 2025.

We have received information that the Indonesian national team plans to have a friendly match with the Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia national teams during the international break in September 2025, "said a Russian media report, quoted on Sunday, May 4.

This trial agenda is considered strategic as part of the preparation of the Indonesian national team towards the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification in the Asian Zone.

Interest in dealing with the Indonesian national team does not only come from Russia. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are also said to be ready to try out the strength of Patrick Kluiver's squad.

Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Denis Manturov, even publicly expressed his desire to hold a friendly match with Indonesia. The signal was also strengthened by the upload of a Russian football social media account which stated that the match between Russia and Indonesia was in the discussion stage.

@TeamRussia is rumored to be having a friendly match with @TimnasIndonesia in the international break this September 2025. The two federations @PSSI and @rfsruofficial are discussing whether the match will be held in Jakarta or Moscow, "said a statement in the upload.

Although until now PSSI has not issued an official statement, the opportunity for this trial match to be realized is considered quite large. Communication between federations is said to have been intense, and currently it is just waiting for the finalization of the venue for the match.