September 8, 2025 | 09:05 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Football observer Kesit Budi Handoyo said that the chances for Indonesia's U-23 national team to qualify for the final of the 2026 U-23 Asian Cup are very slim. In order to qualify, the Garuda Muda squad must win the final qualifying match in Group J against South Korea, which will take place at Gelora Delta Stadium in Sidoarjo, East Java, on September 9, 2025.
In the previous two matches of the 2026 U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers, South Korea has dominated. This poses a significant challenge for Indonesia, which must defeat them in order to qualify for the final round. "I think the chance of defeating South Korea is not easy, although there is a possibility of winning," said Kesit, when contacted by Tempo on Sunday, September 7, 2025.
According to calculations, if Indonesia wins against South Korea, the young Garuda team will surpass South Korea, who currently hold the top spot in the group with 7 points. However, the outcome will be different if Indonesia can only manage a draw. "If it's a draw, Indonesia will only have 5 points, and if they lose, they won't gain any additional points," he said.
It will be very difficult for Indonesia to qualify as the best runner-up. Out of eleven groups, only the top four runner-up teams will qualify due to the tight competition. Currently, according to Kesit, there are four teams with 6 points, including China and Iran. "This means they are safer to occupy the second best ranking," he said.
At the moment, the U-23 national teams of Turkmenistan, Iran, China, and Yemen have each earned 6 points. Some teams have earned more points in their next matches, while Indonesia has only recorded 4 points in the second match.
Kesit explained that South Korea is the favorite team in Group J of the Asian Cup qualifiers. In the last two matches, they played without conceding any goals. They achieved victories with a significant number of goals, both against Macau and Laos. As such, the strength of the young Taeguk Warrior team can be measured in this group.
Observing the first and second matches of Gerald Vanenburg's squad, Kesit noted some changes. In the second match against Macau, Garuda Muda played with more creativity, although not yet optimal. Five goals were scored in that match, proving a significant improvement for Indonesia. "There's an increase in determination, an increase in creativity from the previous matches," he said.
He mentioned that selecting players with creativity in the Garuda team is not easy. According to him, it requires players with a special character to manage the game on the field maturely. "Facing South Korea, they need to give it their all. This is a do-or-die match," Kesit said.
If Indonesia continues to play in the same pattern as in the first match against Laos, the team will have difficulty securing a victory. Garuda Muda needs to maintain the team's performance as they did against Macau. "The ball is round, there's still a chance to earn full points from that match. But it requires hard work," he said. "From a technical standpoint, it's difficult for Indonesia."
Editor's Choice: Indonesia U-23 Victorious Over Macau in AFC U-23 Championship Qualifier
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