Indonesia’s World Cup Dream Still Alive Despite Opening Defeat to Saudi Arabia
Indonesia’s hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup remain alive despite a narrow 2–3 defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening match of the Asian Qualifiers’ fourth round. Kevin Diks netted both of Indonesia’s goals from penalties, but the Saudis secured victory through two strikes from Firas Al-Buraikan and another by Saleh Abu Al-Shamat. The result leaves Indonesia at the bottom of Group B, while Saudi Arabia sits on top with three points, but the Garuda squad’s journey is far from over.
The fourth round serves as the decisive stage in Asia’s qualification process. According to AFC regulations, six teams that finished third and fourth in the third-round groups advanced to this stage. These teams were split into two groups of three, playing in centralized venues without home-and-away fixtures. The matches, hosted by Qatar and Saudi Arabia, run from October 8 to 14, 2025. Only the group winners earn direct World Cup tickets, while the runners-up will proceed to an inter-confederation playoff in the fifth round.
Indonesia’s loss means their path is now much steeper, but qualification remains mathematically possible. With only two matches in this stage, every point is crucial. A win against Iraq on October 12 could revive Indonesia’s chances, giving them three points and keeping them in contention for direct qualification. However, a draw or another defeat would end their campaign. For the best-case scenario, Indonesia must also rely on Iraq defeating Saudi Arabia, which would level all three teams on three points and set up a tense final showdown.
If multiple teams end with identical points, the AFC’s tiebreakers will come into play—starting with goal difference, total goals scored, and head-to-head records. Should teams still be tied, further criteria such as fair play points or even a FIFA draw could decide their fate. With so much still at stake, Indonesia’s campaign hangs by a thread, but a single win could dramatically shift the balance and keep their World Cup dream alive.
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