Indonesia's national football team is gaining momentum in its quest for a spot in the 2026 World Cup following a crucial 1-0 victory over Bahrain on March 25, 2025. This match, played at the iconic Bung Karno Stadium, marked a significant milestone as it was the first win under new coach Patrick Kluivert.
The match began with Indonesia taking control of the game, displaying a strong offensive strategy. Romeny scored the decisive goal in the 24th minute, expertly assisted by fellow teammate Marselino Ferdinan, who capitalized on a chance created after an earlier free-kick attempt by Thom Haye was saved by Bahrain’s goalkeeper. The atmosphere among the home crowd was electric, as fans celebrated the opening goal that positioned Indonesia ahead.
Despite Indonesia's solid lead, Bahrain struggled to bring the game back into balance, showing a lack of coordination in their offensive plays and failing to register a single shot on target in the first half. The visitors finally created their first noteworthy opportunity early in the second half when Mahdi Abduljabbar's shot was blocked just short of the goal by defender Rizky Ridho. However, they continued to falter in attack, with only a few lackluster attempts troubling the Indonesian defense.
As the match progressed, Indonesia had a golden chance to secure their victory, but Marselino squandered a clear shot from less than 10 meters in the 67th minute, putting the crowd on edge. Eliano Reijnders also missed a great opportunity shortly afterward as his shot went wayward, leaving supporters shaking their heads in disbelief. Nevertheless, Indonesia held firm, sealing their victory and keeping their hopes alive for qualification.
This win places Indonesia fourth in Group C, now sitting 3 points ahead of Bahrain and China. Despite being behind Australia, the second-place team, by 4 points, the victory has invigorated fan hopes. Online supporters are expressing optimism, with one fan tweeting, “All we need is two more wins to secure our World Cup ticket!” demonstrating the rising enthusiasm within the fanbase.
With Japan having already secured their spot in the World Cup with an impressive 20 points, the competition for the remaining spots is tightening. Only the top two teams will advance to the World Cup while the third and fourth-placed teams will enter a subsequent qualifying round for a potential playoff opportunity. As Indonesia seeks to continue their successful campaign under Kluivert, they focus on maintaining their position in the group, which is crucial for future play-off chances.
Despite acknowledging their slim chances of directly qualifying, fans are hopeful about their team’s performances as Patrick Kluivert takes the reins. The palpable excitement enveloping the team signals that although challenges remain, the quest for the World Cup continues unabated.
