Any belief that Indonesia were ready to challenge Asia’s elite was ruthlessly dismantled on June 10, as Timnas Garuda were humbled 6-0 by a second-string Japan side at the Panasonic Stadium Suita in Osaka.
Despite Japan resting the bulk of their regular starters—including Kaoru Mitoma, Takumi Minamino, Junya Ito, Ayase Ueda, Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda, and Kyogo Furuhashi—Hajime Moriyasu’s team proved far too strong. Only three first-team regulars retained their spots: Takefusa Kubo, Daichi Kamada, and Wataru Endo. And it was the former two who stole the show.
Kubo, fresh off a stellar season with Real Sociedad, dazzled with a goal and two assists, while Kamada—now with Crystal Palace—helped himself to a brace. The remaining goals came from Ryoya Morishita (Legia Warsaw), Shuto Machino (Holstein Kiel), and Mao Hosoya (Kashiwa Reysol), capping off a dominant performance.
In contrast, Indonesia offered no real threat. They failed to register a single shot—let alone one on target—while Japan fired 21 shots, 10 of which were on goal. It was a brutal reminder of the gulf in class.
For Indonesia, the only silver lining was that the match had no bearing on qualification. Japan had already secured top spot in Group C of the third round, booking their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Meanwhile, Indonesia had already sealed a fourth-place finish, which was enough to progress to the fourth round of AFC qualification—a historic achievement for a Southeast Asian team.
Indonesia entered the final match with the best record among Southeast Asian nations in this stage. Wins over Saudi Arabia (2-0), Bahrain (1-0), and China (1-0), along with draws against Australia (2-2) and the Saudis (1-1), gave hope to fans dreaming of a first-ever World Cup appearance.
The transition from Shin Tae-yong to Patrick Kluivert brought skepticism, but the team’s gritty performances—especially the crucial win over China—kept Indonesia in the race. That victory not only extended their campaign but also ended a 37-year winless run against the Chinese, sparking optimism back home.
However, Indonesia’s vulnerabilities have been laid bare in their two defeats under Kluivert. The 5-1 thrashing by Australia and this latest humiliation against Japan highlight a recurring issue: once their defensive structure is breached, collapse is swift and total.
Another worrying trend is Indonesia’s inability to win away from home. Their only non-defeats on foreign soil were the aforementioned draws in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The lack of away wins could prove costly in the fourth round, which will be played at a neutral venue – most likely a Middle Eastern country.
Still, prior results against higher-ranked teams—most notably Saudi Arabia, China, and Australia—gave fans reason to believe. When it was announced that Moriyasu would rest most of his stars, hope grew even further. A draw in Osaka, against a top-20 FIFA-ranked opponent, would have been hailed as a major success.
That optimism lasted just 20 minutes.
By then, Kamada and Kubo had already put Japan 2-0 up. From there, the game turned into a procession, and by full-time, Indonesia were left licking their wounds after one of the heaviest defeats in recent memory.
While the manner of defeat was sobering, it doesn’t erase the progress Indonesia has made. Reaching the fourth round is unprecedented for any Southeast Asian nation and represents a major step forward. But if Timnas Garuda are serious about reaching North America in 2026, they’ll need to harden their defense, improve their away form, and show they can compete against the region’s very best—not just survive.
The fourth round will offer no respite. With only two direct qualification spots on offer and likely opponents including Qatar, Iraq, and the UAE, the road ahead is daunting.
But for a nation starved of footballing success at the highest level, simply being in the conversation is progress. Now, it’s up to Kluivert and his squad to ensure that this campaign doesn’t end in another footnote of what could have been.