Indonesia’s national football team suffered a bruising 0–6 defeat to Japan on Tuesday in Suita, ending their second-round campaign in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Despite the loss, Indonesia remains in fourth place in Group C with 12 points—enough to advance to the fourth round of qualification.
Throughout Indonesia’s football history, its national team has never advanced beyond the third round of FIFA World Cup qualifiers — making this achievement a first.
Fourth-place finish confirmed for Indonesia
After Wednesday’s final Group C match between Saudi Arabia and Australia, the result confirms the Garuda squad’s finish in fourth place.
While finishing outside the top two means Indonesia misses out on a direct ticket to the third round, the fourth-place finish still qualifies them for the fourth round of World Cup qualifying. This route offers another opportunity to fight for a spot at the 2026 tournament.
Group C Standings
- Japan – 23 points
- Australia – 19
- Saudi Arabia – 13
- Indonesia – 12
- Bahrain – 7
- China – 7
What happens next in AFC qualification?
Under the current AFC format, teams finishing third and fourth in their groups in the second round do not exit the competition. Instead, they proceed to the fourth round, where they will be drawn into new groups and continue their bid for World Cup qualification.
Though more competitive and less direct than the third-round path, it still keeps Indonesia’s World Cup hopes alive.
A milestone moment for Indonesian football
This is unfamiliar and promising territory for Indonesia. The team’s advance beyond the second round marks its best performance in World Cup qualifying in decades. The last time Indonesia reached anything close was during the 1986 cycle.
The achievement is especially notable given the team’s turbulent past, including years of stagnation and a FIFA suspension. In 2015, the team was suspended due to government interference in the operations of the national football association (PSSI).
While the most recent defeat to Japan served as a stark reminder of the gap at the top levels of Asian football, Indonesia’s campaign has energized supporters and opened a realistic path toward its long-shot dream: qualifying for its first-ever FIFA World Cup.
