Indonesia celebrated a vital 1-0 victory against Bahrain in their World Cup qualifying match held in Jakarta. This win boosts Indonesia’s chances of reaching the 2026 World Cup, marking the first victory for head coach Patrick Kluivert since taking over the team. Kluivert faced a tough start, having lost his debut match 5-1 to Australia just a few days earlier.
The only goal of the match came from Ole Romeny in the 24th minute. He skillfully connected with a pass from Marselino Ferdinan and found the back of the net, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. This win puts Indonesia in a stronger position, moving them three points ahead of Bahrain and China, who are at the bottom of the group.
Indonesia is currently fourth in their six-team group, with the top two teams securing automatic qualification for the World Cup. The third and fourth places will enter playoffs, while the bottom two teams will be eliminated from the race.
In a match that saw Indonesia under pressure in the second half, substitute Tijjani Reijnders missed a chance to extend the lead, shooting high and wide. Despite this, Indonesia managed to hold onto their lead against a Bahrain team that showed improvement as the game progressed.
This victory is significant for Indonesia, who last qualified for the World Cup in 1938 when they were known as the Dutch East Indies. The team is eager to make their mark on the global stage once again. Meanwhile, Japan has already secured their spot in the World Cup after a recent draw with Saudi Arabia, while Australia remains in second place after their own win over China.