According to Indonesian media, ahead of the two matches against Saudi Arabia and Iraq in the fourth qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, coach Patrick Kluivert has announced the list of 28 Indonesian players. Notably, there were 6 faces that were pillars under former coach Shin Tae-yong who were eliminated.
Right-back Asnawi Mangkualam continues to be absent despite regularly playing in the Thai League. In this position, Kluivert put his faith in Sandy Walsh and Yakob Sayuri. Similarly, Pratama Arhan - the player holding the record of 50 caps for the Indonesian national team - will also not participate due to unstable performance at Bangkok United, and will have to compete with naturalized defenders such as Verdonk, James and Pattynama.
Up front, Rafael Struick has not been called up after a short spell at Dewa United. Marselino Ferdinan - who scored against Saudi Arabia, was also left out for not having many opportunities to play in Europe.
In midfield, Ivar Jenner was injured in mid-September and has not recovered yet. Meanwhile, centre-back Mees Hilgers has not been used at FC Twente since the start of the 2025-2026 season due to a transfer conflict, causing his performance to decline and not meeting professional requirements.
The strong decision to eliminate many players shows that coach Kluivert puts current form first, instead of relying on past fame. This is also considered a move to open up opportunities for new faces, in the context of the Indonesian team's great determination in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
