Indonesia team continues to receive shock, Iraq wants to defeat Thailand in King's Cup

The Indonesian national team has just received shocking news when key naturalized center back Kevin Diks was injured in his first match for his new club Borussia Monchengladbach (Germany). Meanwhile, their opponent Iraq is about to participate in the King's Cup in Thailand with its strongest squad.

Indonesia closely watches Iraq team at King's Cup in Thailand

Indonesia and Iraq are in Group B in the fourth qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia, along with host Saudi Arabia (playing from October 8 to 14).

All three teams will compete for the top spot in the group, winning a valuable ticket to the final round in the US, Mexico and Canada next summer. In Group A, Qatar, UAE and Oman will compete for the remaining ticket. The two teams finishing second in each group will play a play-off (2 rounds), competing for a place in the Intercontinental play-off round (6 teams) to compete for 2 wild-card tickets in March 2026.

Coach Kluivert (right cover) faces many challenges for the Indonesian team in the fourth qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia.

Photo: Reuters

Starting from the FIFA Days this September, these teams will officially enter the preparation process. However, the Indonesian team, the only representative of Southeast Asian football competing for a ticket to the 2026 World Cup, has continuously received many bad news about the player force.

First, the number 1 striker of Dutch origin, Ole Romeny, suffered a serious injury and had to undergo surgery in June, and it is still unclear when he will return. The best local striker, Marselino Ferdinan, was also recently seen returning to Indonesia, but it is unclear why he has not played for Oxford United in the English First Division (which has started 2 rounds), according to CNN Indonesia.

The situation became even more complicated for Indonesian coach Kluivert when recently, defender Kevin Diks (also of Dutch origin) made his debut for Borussia Monchengladbach in the first round of the German Cup and was injured. Kevin Diks was taken off after the first half, and it is still unclear when the 28-year-old will recover to return to play, while the Bundesliga (Germany) is about to start on August 24.

However, there was some positive news for the Indonesian national team, as several other naturalized players have played in the new season with their clubs. Striker Ragnar Oratmangoen has played for FCV Dender (Belgium) after a period of illness. Defender Dean James also featured for Go Ahead Eagles in the match against Ajax Amsterdam in the Dutch league.

Similarly, defender Justin Hubner also started for his new club Fortuna Sittard (Netherlands) in the away match against NAC Breda. In addition, versatile midfielder Nathan Tjoe-A-On also made his debut for Willem II against FC Eindhoven, according to CNN Indonesia. However, defender Mees Hilgers was not named in the FC Twente squad to face PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch league.

The Indonesian team has high expectations in the fourth qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia, but is facing many difficulties.

Photo: Reuters

In Southeast Asia, defender Asnawi Mangkualam came on as a substitute in the match between Port FC and Ayutthaya United in the Thai League 1 (Thailand). Defender Pratama Arhan also played for Bangkok United in the match against Rayong FC.

The Indonesian team has scheduled to gather in early September to prepare for two international friendly matches against Kuwait on September 5 and Lebanon on September 8, both in Surabaya City, to prepare for the matches in the fourth qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia (October).

At the same time, Indonesia's opponent, the Iraqi team, is participating in the King's Cup in Thailand with its strongest squad, according to the statement of Australian coach Graham Arnold.

Mr. Graham Arnold affirmed that the Iraqi team will call up 18-year-old star Jussef Nasrawe, who is playing for Bayern Munich's youth team, to strengthen the squad for the King's Cup and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

In addition, the 62-year-old coach also revealed that he has divided 3 groups of his assistants to many places where Iraqi players play, to monitor and make a list of players to call up in the near future. Mr. Graham Arnold's goal is to win the King's Cup with the Iraqi team, with the possibility of meeting the host team Thailand in the final on September 7. Before that, Iraq will meet Hong Kong on September 4, while Thailand will meet Fiji.

According to CNN Indonesia, at the King's Cup, many members of the national team's coaching staff will certainly come to watch and closely observe the Iraqi team's performance, in preparation for the confrontation between the two teams in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in October.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-indonesia-tiep-tuc-nhan-cu-soc-iraq-muon-ha-thai-lan-o-kings-cup-18525081811242139.htm