Indonesia’s World Cup Dreams Dashed by Narrow Loss to Iraq

Indonesia’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to an abrupt end on March 25, 2024, following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Iraq in Jeddah. Coach Patrick Kluivert expressed deep disappointment, stating that his players were “devastated” after the match, which saw Iraq secure victory with a goal from Zidane Iqbal in the 76th minute.

Kluivert’s team faced a challenging path in their qualification campaign, following a previous 3-2 loss to Saudi Arabia just three days earlier. This recent defeat marks Indonesia’s second consecutive loss and extinguishes their aspirations of reaching the World Cup for the first time since gaining independence from the Netherlands in 1949. “If you look at the game, we were by far the better team,” Kluivert said, reflecting on the performance.

The coach acknowledged the dedication of his squad, stating, “We worked hard, playing against Saudi and then three days later, it was a great recovery to play another tough game. We performed fantastic.” Kluivert praised the players for their heart and courage, despite the outcome not reflecting their efforts. “Unfortunately, the result again was not on our side while creating chances and playing very good football. With one action, you lose the game. We are devastated.”

Indonesia’s progress to the fourth round of Asia’s preliminaries was their best performance to date. Despite the setback, Kluivert noted the team’s growth throughout the campaign, saying, “All the results that we had, good and bad results, I think we grew as a team individually and collectively.”

The team struggled with scoring in open play, with both of Kevin Diks‘ goals in the match against Saudi Arabia coming from penalties. Kluivert reflected on the team’s journey, stating, “The World Cup dream slips away through your hands. The disappointment, of not only me but the whole country of Indonesia, is really tough. It’s really tough.”

When questioned about whether a lack of experience contributed to the team’s struggles against more seasoned opponents, Kluivert defended his players. “They’re not too young. The way they played was fantastic. They can play like this against Saudi, against Iraq, who are 58th and 59th in the world rankings, and we are 118.” He added, “As a head coach, I’m very proud of them, if you can show your heart like this. Unfortunately, the goals are not coming when you create the chances and play good football.”

Despite the disappointment, Kluivert’s leadership and the players’ commitment have set a foundation for future endeavors. As Indonesia reflects on this qualification journey, the hope remains that this experience will contribute to greater successes in the years to come.