Impact of Indonesia’s Surprise in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

The journey of Indonesia’s National Team in the third round of 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Asian Zone brought unexpected consequences — several opposing team coaches had to leave their positions.

The Garuda squad, initially placed in pot four during the group draw, managed to prove their capabilities — competing with Asia’s top teams like Japan, Australia, and Saudi Arabia.

Indonesia’s success in securing fourth position with 12 points became an extraordinary achievement, considering they had to compete with:

• Japan
• Australia
• Saudi Arabia
• Bahrain
• China

This accomplishment not only changed perceptions about Indonesian football strength but also affected the internal dynamics of opposing teams — some of which were forced to make head coach changes.