World Cup Qualifier: Indonesia Coach Patrick Kluivert's Message to Players

Kluivert urges team not to be intimidated

Patrick Kluivert is urging his Indonesia players to stay focused and not be intimidated by the sold-out crowd at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, where they'll face hosts Saudi Arabia in a crucial World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.

“I think we have made very good improvements since January and we continue on our way...”

Indonesia's head coach, Patrick Kluivert, is urging his team to stay focused and not be intimidated by the sold-out crowd at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, where they'll face Saudi Arabia in a crucial World Cup qualifier. This match, along with their game against Iraq on Saturday, will determine Indonesia's fate in the tournament.

Kluivert's team is on the cusp of making history, with a potential first-place finish in their group guaranteeing an automatic spot in the World Cup finals in North America next year. Indonesia is seeking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1938, when they competed as the Dutch East Indies.

The top two teams in each group will secure direct qualification, with the third- and fourth-place teams advancing to the next stage. Indonesia currently sits in Group B alongside Saudi Arabia and Iraq, and a strong performance in these matches could seal their spot in the World Cup.

“I'm not afraid because if you're afraid, you show your weakness,” said the former Barcelona and Netherlands striker. “If we show weaknesses, that gives the opponent strength.

“We know the power and the strength of Saudi Arabia, especially when they play at home, but we need to be focused. The mindset is the most important thing, to be calm in warm situations.”

Pelatih Timnas Indonesia, Patrick Kluivert, menegaskan pentingnya kesiapan mental dan fokus tinggi saat menghadapi Arab Saudi pada laga perdana putaran keempat Kualifikasi Piala Dunia 2026 zona Asia.

Selengkapnya 👇https://t.co/kJArDadms5

— Timnas Indonesia (@TimnasIndonesia) October 7, 2025

Indonesia has a positive record against Saudi Arabia from their previous encounters. In the earlier round of Asia's World Cup preliminaries, they secured a 1-1 draw in Jeddah and followed it up with a 2-0 win in Jakarta. This head-to-head advantage could give them the confidence they need as they face Saudi Arabia again in their upcoming match.

📌 | 𝐉𝐚𝐝𝐰𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐤𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫

🔴 World Cup Qualifiers Round 4
🔵 #AFCU17 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers
🟢 U23 International Friendly Match
🎮 eFootball & Rocket League Regional Qualfiers

‣ #BersamaGaruda pic.twitter.com/qoDzDTmwJE

— Timnas Indonesia (@TimnasIndonesia) October 1, 2025

Patrick Kluivert took the reins of the Indonesian national team in January, replacing Shin Tae-yong, who had led the team to impressive results, including a 1-1 draw and a 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the previous round of World Cup qualifiers. Since Kluivert's appointment, the team has seen mixed results, with heavy losses to Japan and Australia, but also crucial wins over China and Bahrain, keeping their World Cup qualifying hopes alive.

Kluivert's experience as a former player and coach could be beneficial in guiding the team through these challenges. With the support of his assistants, including Alex Pastoor and Denny Landzaat from the Netherlands, and two local Indonesian coaches, Kluivert is determined to make a positive impact on the team.

“We have to play two finals, so tomorrow is a final,” said Kluivert. “Big expectations, of course. The importance is very high. We are representing a country of 280 million people, and we are ambassadors for the game.

“The most important thing is to be sharp in the match. We live towards this moment, not only us, but everybody backing us up is living for this moment.”

Injury Updates for Indonesia

Indonesia will face significant challenges in their upcoming match against Saudi Arabia due to injury issues. First-choice goalkeeper Emil Audero will be out, having suffered an injury that requires him to undergo further examination. Marselino Ferdinan, who scored crucial goals in the previous win over Saudi Arabia, is also ruled out.

Ole Romeny, another key player, is a doubt for the match due to a foot injury. His availability will depend on how he recovers in the coming days. Other players like Shayne Pattynama, Yance Sayuri, Beckham Putra Nugraha, and Mark Klok may also miss the game as coach Patrick Kluivert is expected to trim down his 29-player squad to 23.

“I think we have made very good improvements since January and we continue on our way,” he said.

“We are more confident today, I think we are stronger than before but let's play, because the reality is on the field.”

Saudi Arabia's coach, Hervé Renard, is optimistic that his team can bounce back from their previous losses to Indonesia and secure a win. A victory would bring them closer to qualifying for the World Cup for the seventh time. Renard's team is focused on moving forward and achieving their goal, despite the setbacks they experienced in their earlier encounters with Indonesia.

Upcoming Matches:

• Saudi Arabia vs. Indonesia: Wednesday, October 8, 2025, World Cup Qualification AFC, 17:15 (Jeddah time)

• Indonesia vs. Iraq: Saturday, October 11, 2025, World Cup Qualification AFC, 19:30 (Indonesia time)