Patrick Kluivert Uncertain About Future With Dutch National Team After Failing to Qualify for 2026 World Cup

Indonesian national team coach Patrick Kluivert admitted he cannot yet confirm his next steps after the Garuda squad failed to advance to the 2026 World Cup finals. A narrow 0–1 defeat to Iraq in Jeddah on Sunday, October 12, 2025, ended Indonesia's qualification hopes.

Previously, in their Group B opener of the fourth round of Asian zone qualifiers, the national team also fell 2–3 to hosts Saudi Arabia. These consecutive losses forced Indonesia's early exit despite battling hard since the initial qualification phase.

During the post-match press conference, Kluivert expressed both disappointment and uncertainty about his future with the national team.

“There are no plans right now. We need to reflect on what we've done, but I truly don't have an answer,” said Kluivert in the post-match press conference, as quoted from an audio recording we received on Sunday, October 12, 2025.

“I don't know. I really don't know what will happen next,” he continued.

The former Barcelona and Netherlands player was officially appointed head coach of Indonesia by PSSI on January 8, 2025, replacing Shin Tae-yong who was dismissed two days prior.

Rocky Start, Growing Hope

Kluivert's debut with Garuda began roughly, suffering a 1–5 thrashing by Australia in their third-round qualifier. Gradually, the team's performance improved.

In subsequent matches, Indonesia defeated Bahrain 1–0 and repeated the scoreline against China at home. Unfortunately, this momentum halted in their final Group C match where Japan dominated 6–0. Despite this, Indonesia progressed to the fourth round – a historic milestone for Garuda in World Cup qualifying.

Reevaluating the Team's Direction

Ahead of the fourth round, Kluivert prepared the squad through friendlies in East Java. Garuda crushed Taiwan 6–0 but drew goalless against Lebanon.

Now, after consecutive fourth-round losses, Kluivert's coaching future remains uncertain. Will PSSI trust the Dutch legend with their long-term project, or seek a new figure to bring fresh energy?

Undoubtedly, Kluivert's journey with Garuda delivered a crucial lesson: building a national team foundation requires time, consistency, and patience – from players and Indonesian football supporters alike.