October 14, 2025 | 07:42 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is disappointed by the Indonesian national team's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Nevertheless, the State Secretary Minister, Prasetyo Hadi, stated that Prabowo invites everyone to make an effort again, considering there are two upcoming events, the 2027 Asia Cup and the 2028 Olympics.
"But as the Head of State and Head of Government, I also convey a message for us to try again. There are two major events that we will face, the 2027 Asia Cup and the 2028 Olympics," he said at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
Prasetyo conveyed Prabowo's statement as Prabowo chaired a limited meeting with several ministers at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Prabowo had previously witnessed the signing of the Gaza peace agreement in Egypt, the previous Monday.
During the limited meeting, Prasetyo stated that the Minister of Youth and Sports and the Chair of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Erick Thohir, immediately apologized to President Prabowo Subianto because the Indonesian National Football Team failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Prasetyo said there were no discussions about evaluating the national team coach, Patrick Kluivert. However, Prabowo asked Erick to conduct a comprehensive evaluation.
In addition, he asked Erick to establish an academy or center for the training of national athletes in several sports branches. The academy was established to train athletes to compete in the 2028 Olympics. "The hope (for the establishment of the academy) is certainly to win medals," he said.
Erick Thohir, the chair of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), had previously apologized to the entire Indonesian community because the Indonesian national team failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The Garuda squad was eliminated after losing 0-1 to Iraq in the second match of Group B in the fourth round of qualifiers, on Sunday, October 12, 2025.
"We apologize that the dream (of Indonesia) qualifying for the 2026 World Cup has not been realized," wrote Erick, who also serves as the Minister of Youth and Sports, on his social media account monitored in Jakarta, on Sunday.
Erick thanked the supporters, players, and officials who struggled to advance Indonesia to the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. "It is the first time in history Indonesia has advanced this far," he wrote.
Editor's Choice: Indonesia's World Cup Hopes Lost: National Team Played Better Against Iraq Than Against Saudi Arabia
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