The Indonesian national team will face Bahrain in the continuation of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, Thursday (10/10) night. This is the third match of Group C of the Asian Zone qualifiers.
According to Indonesian Football Association Chairman Erick Thohir, the Indonesian national team cannot be underestimated anymore. Other teams, including the referee, who had underestimated Indonesia, have now seen the great potential of the national team.
Erick only hopes that this match will go smoothly. There are no more things that cause controversy Indonesia, said Erick, is ready to compete at this level.
Erick conveyed a firm message so that the dark story of losing 0-10 would not be experienced by the Indonesian national team again.
The Indonesian national team lost 0-10 to Bahrain in the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers in 2012. At that time, the Indonesian national team was humiliated by the opponent because there was dualism in Indonesian Football Association.
According to Erick, such a thing should not be repeated. In order for the Indonesian national team to compete in Asia and qualify for the World Cup, all parties must be united.
“If we as a nation, as PSSI, as football stakeholders, yes we must unite to be able to do something we dream of so that we become the best unit”
“If we are divided like before, we still have sectoral egos, the national team itself, the league does not want to stop, EPA and Soeratin collide with time and schedule, it is our destruction,” said Erick.
Currently, Erick said what needs to be done together is to build domestic football. Egos must be thrown away.
That is precisely our commitment to be able to manage everything better so that the Indonesian national team is good. Don’t be slaughtered 10-0 like before,” said Erick emphasized.
Currently, the Indonesian national team is struggling in the third phase of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. The Red and White team is temporarily ranked fourth out of two matches.
Erick previously targeted the Indonesian national team to win 15 points so that they could continue the struggle to the next phase, namely the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
