Coach's Seat Still Vacant Ahead of November 2025 Trials, Who Will Lead the Garuda Squad?
Source: Football Association of Indonesia
The sky of Indonesian football remains unsettled after bitter news struck: the national team failed to advance to the 2026 World Cup. Yet a journey awaits the Garuda squad toward FIFA Matchday in November 2025, scheduled for November 10–18.
This new agenda offers a chance to regroup, refine their rhythm, and potentially discover fresh direction amid transition. But as ever, the path to international friendlies isn't always smooth.
Securing opponents, for instance, proves complicated. Full freedom in choosing sparring partners is limited since global football remains occupied.
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Major regions like Europe (UEFA), North/Central America (CONCACAF), and parts of Africa (CAF) are immersed in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
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This forces Indonesia to shift focus—eyeing nations that have concluded qualifiers, particularly from South America, or Asian teams already holding World Cup tickets.
South America’s qualification wraps up in September 2025, while Asia’s concludes earlier in June 2025.
Hence, PSSI is evaluating five potential opponents for the Garuda squad: Malaysia, Jordan, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, and Palestine.
These nations offer suitable playing styles to test Indonesia’s transitional phase following Patrick Kluivert’s dismissal as head coach.
Amid uncertainty over who’ll fill the coaching hot seat, the national team prepares. While exact dates/locations remain unconfirmed, these matches are crucial.
Beyond refining performance, the friendlies will chase FIFA ranking points and build foundations toward Indonesia’s 2026 international calendar.
The domestic football public still awaits Garuda’s opponents and new coach. More than mere matches, these friendlies mark the first test for Indonesia’s post-qualification era.
