Indonesia’s World Cup Dream Ends After 0-1 Loss to Iraq
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| Indonesia’s World Cup Dream Ends After 0-1 Loss to Iraq. |
Indonesia’s dream of reaching the 2026 World Cup came to an end after a narrow 0-1 defeat to Iraq on Sunday, October 12, early morning WIB. Head coach Patrick Kluivert couldn’t hide his frustration and was seen hitting the team bench after the final whistle.
Playing at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Jeddah, Indonesia actually showed a better performance compared to their opening match against Saudi Arabia. The Garuda squad played aggressively and dominated possession, creating several golden chances. Unfortunately, none of them were converted into goals.
Disaster struck in the 76th minute when Zidane Iqbal broke the deadlock for Iraq. After getting past Calvin Verdonk’s marking outside the penalty area, Iqbal fired a low shot that slipped into the corner of Maarten Paes’ goal, giving Iraq a 1-0 lead.
Falling behind only pushed Indonesia to attack even harder. However, all efforts led by Jay Idzes and his teammates were denied, often disrupted by Iraq’s tight defense and several fouls that broke their rhythm. The score remained 1-0 until the final whistle.
The defeat was clearly a big blow for Patrick Kluivert. After the match, cameras caught him throwing a water bottle toward the bench out of frustration. Some players were visibly emotional, including Thom Haye, who couldn’t hold back tears despite being comforted by team captain Jay Idzes.
This result officially ended Indonesia’s hope of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The Red-and-White team now sits at the bottom of Group B with zero points after suffering two consecutive defeats. Earlier, Indonesia lost 2-3 to hosts Saudi Arabia in their first match.
Meanwhile, the top of the group is currently shared by Saudi Arabia and Iraq, with Saudi Arabia leading on goal difference. The group winner will be decided when both teams face off on Tuesday, October 14.
Although the World Cup dream has ended, Indonesia’s fighting spirit and improvement on the field deserve appreciation. Their performance showed progress, and with continued support from fans, the Garuda squad can rebuild and aim higher in future competitions.



