A Preview of Japan vs Indonesia Match in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

17 hours ago 3

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The match between Japan and Indonesia will be presented in the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in the Asian zone. The final Group C match will be held at the Suita City Stadium on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 17:35 WIB (Western Indonesian Time). The action of both teams will be broadcast live by RCTI and Vision+.

The result of this match will no longer affect the performance of both teams in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Japan has secured their place in the final round since several matches ago. Meanwhile, the Garuda team, thanks to their victory over China combined with Bahrain's loss to Saudi Arabia, has secured a spot in the fourth round.

However, this match cannot be overlooked. Especially when looking at the results of the last matches obtained by both teams.

The home team, Japan, suffered their first defeat in the third round in their last match. Visiting Australia, the Sun Rise team had to return home with a 0-1 defeat due to Aziz Behich's goal in the 90th minute.

There are many reports stating that Japan did not field their best squad. Out of the 11 core players who played against Australia, only Daichi Kamada and Tsuyoshi Watanabe have careers in Europe. However, Hajime Moriyasu wants his team to rebound after the loss to Australia. The defeat could be considered a stain that ultimately tarnished Japan's record in the third round.

In contrast, Indonesia recently secured a narrow 1-0 victory over China thanks to Ole Romeny's penalty. The victory ensured their progress to the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Aside from the three points, another thing worthy of appreciation from coach Patrick Kluivert in his third match leading the Garuda team is the courage he and his coaching staff showed in fielding players from the Indonesian Liga 1. Four players from Liga 1 clubs were in the starting 11 in the match against China, and they all proved their quality amidst the many diaspora players.

Last Meeting

Indonesia suffered a bitter 0-4 defeat when hosting Japan in November last year. At that time, Maarten Paes' goal was breached by Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Yukinari Sugawara, and an own goal by Justin Hubner.

In the match at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Japan dominated from the start. The Blue Samurai controlled 67 percent of the ball compared to the 33 percent possession by the Indonesian national team, which was then still coached by Shin Tae-yong.

In terms of shots and accurate shots, Japan also outperformed in that match. They recorded 12 shots and 7 on-target shots compared to the 8 shots and 3 on-target shots by the Garuda team.

Two Key Players Return

Prior to the match against Japan, two key Indonesian players, goalkeeper Paes and forward Marselino Ferdinand, are eligible to play again under coach Kluivert. Both Paes and Marselino were absent in the match against China due to accumulated yellow cards.

Now, their sanctions have been served, and both of them are brought along by Coach Kluivert to Japan. However, it does not guarantee them a place in the starting lineup. From the match against China, it is evident that Kluivert and his coaching staff evaluate players based on their quality, not just their reputation.

Paes faces competition of similar quality from Emil Audero Mulyadi. Emil showcased his class as a former goalkeeper for Juventus and Inter Milan when he performed brilliantly in the match against China. A clean sheet and several important saves make Emil a worthy consideration to start again.

Meanwhile, Egy Maulana Vikri proved capable of fulfilling Marselino's role in Indonesia's attacking sector in the match against China. The Dewa United player also proved to be a worthy partner for Ole Romeny in the Garuda team's front line.

On the other hand, considering that Indonesia has secured a spot in the fourth round, it is possible that this match will serve as an experiment for Kluivert and his coaching staff to make some changes.

Kevin Diks and Mees Hilgers may be given starting roles after being unused substitutes in the match against China. Furthermore, Beckham Putra, who played as a substitute and demonstrated his ability against China, also has the chance to start under Kluivert.

Japan Might Field Reserve Players

Similar to the match against Australia, Japan may once again field their second-string team when hosting Indonesia. Their top players such as Kaoru Mitoma did not feature in the squad against Australia, and Zion Suzuki and Wataru Endo did not play, while Takefusa Kubo came on as a substitute.

Japan also suffered the loss of two players, Koki Machida and Tsuyoshi Watanabe, due to injury. Coach Moriyasu decided against adding new members to their squad, so Japan's national team currently only consists of 21 players.

Moreover, Coach Moriyasu called up seven new players for the final two matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Against Australia, Japan fielded three debutants: Hiroki Sekine, Yu Hirakawa, and Kota Tawaratsumida.

Therefore, there is a high chance that when facing Indonesia, Coach Moriyasu will once again provide an opportunity for young Japanese players to make their debut.

If that happens, the Indonesian national team has a good chance of securing at least one point in Japan. Because in their last match, the national team showed not only their ability to win but also to perform well collectively.

Predicted Lineups

Japan: Kosei Tani; Koki Machida, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Hiroki Sakine; Daichi Kamada, Takefusa Kubo, Wataru Endo, Joel Chima Fujita; Keito Nakamura, Yu Hirakawa; Shuto Machino
Coach: Hajime Moriyasu.

Indonesia: Emil Audero; Justin Hubner, Jay Idzes, Rizky Ridho; Calvin Verdonk, Joey Pelupessy, Thom Haye, Yance Sayuri; Ricky Kambuaya, Egy Maulana Vikri; Ole Romeny.
Coach: Patrick Kluivert

Japan vs Indonesia Prediction

This match will no longer affect both teams' chances. However, there is a reputation at stake. Japan aims to conclude the successful qualification stage with a victory in front of their home supporters. Despite making some changes, Japan has better quality in their squad. Their impressive head-to-head record against Indonesia and playing in front of their home fans make Japan the favorite in this match.