Indonesia team determined to get points against Bahrain and China

In the first two matches of Group C, the third qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia, the Indonesian team caused a shock when they tied Saudi Arabia 1-1 and Australia 0-0. This result helped them rank 4th out of 6 in Group C, above China and Australia.

Coach Shin Tae-yong’s team will play two matches this October. They will have two away matches that are expected to be difficult against Bahrain (October 10) and China (October 15).

To prepare for these two matches, the Indonesian team has called up 27 players, including two newly naturalized players, Mees Hilgers and Eliano Reijnders. Among them, Mees Hilgers is a central defender currently playing for FC Twente (Netherlands), who recently played against Man United in the Europa League. He is valued at up to 7 million Euros - the highest among players currently playing for teams in Southeast Asia.

FIFA confirmed that these two players are eligible to play for the Indonesian national team. President of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Erick Thohir emphasized that this addition will strengthen the chances of Bahrain and China to gain points on the field.

“When the Indonesian national team can compete with strong teams in Asia, our fans have the right to be proud of the team. I hope that with the successful naturalization of Mees Hilgers and Eliano Reijnders, they will be present in Bahrain and China, to strengthen the goal of gaining points on away matches,” he said.

The head of PSSI also reaffirmed that the most realistic goal of the Indonesian team is to win 15 points in Group C, thereby finishing in the top 4. If the archipelago team finishes first or second in Group C, they will have a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup. Otherwise, they must finish 3rd or 4th in their group to continue to the fourth qualifying round.

The results of the two matches against Bahrain and China will greatly affect the goals of the Indonesian team. After two matches, Bahrain has won 3 points. They beat Australia 1-0 but lost to Japan 0-5. Meanwhile, China lost to Japan 0-7 and Saudi Arabia 1-2 and are facing many difficulties.

With a large squad, many players playing in Europe and increasingly compatible, the Indonesian team has high hopes of scoring points on the field of Bahrain and China. They can even completely defeat these two opponents.