September 3, 2025 | 06:10 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian national team player Mees Hilgers will be absent from the FIFA Matchday in September 2025 against Taiwan and Lebanon. He will focus on completing the transfer process to his new club.
The defender of the Garuda squad is still under contract with FC Twente in the Dutch League Eredivisie until 2026. Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) ensures that Hilgers' absence will not diminish the Indonesian national team's spirit in facing the two important friendly matches in Surabaya.
The Garuda squad, under the guidance of coach Patrick Kluivert, will play the FIFA Matchday matches against Taiwan on September 5, 2025, and Lebanon on September 8, 2025. The matches will take place at Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium, Surabaya, East Java.
Mees Hilgers joined FC Twente's academy at a young age and broke into the first team in the 2020/2021 season. He officially became an Indonesian citizen at the end of 2024, having completed the naturalization process. He made his debut for the Indonesian national team in early 2025 under the guidance of coach Shin Tae-yong.
The Garuda team's friendly matches in Surabaya are part of the national team's preparation for the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in the Asia zone. The Indonesian national team is in Group B, consisting of Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. The fourth round will take place from October 8 to 14, 2025, in Saudi Arabia. The group winner will qualify for the World Cup, while the runner-up will have the chance to compete in the fifth round.
The chairperson of PSSI, Erick Thohir, tries to understand the situation faced by Indonesian national team defender Mees Hilgers. "It seems that he had a transfer yesterday, which apparently did not happen, so maybe it's an administrative issue with his club. We also have to give them a chance, whatever the players' choice is, whether to play in our league," said Erick when met at the Ministry of Law building in Jakarta, Wednesday, September 3, 2025.
"Minister (of Law Supratman Andi Agats) and I were counting how many players are playing abroad; there are 13 playing abroad. Of course, we also have to support their careers. This is part of our consolidation," Erick added.
Antara contributed to the writing of this article
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