Indonesia confident of ending 44-year winning drought against Australia at upcoming World Cup qualifier

After six matches, Indonesia sit third in Group C with six points, just one behind second-placed Australia. A victory at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on March 20 would see them overtake the Socceroos and move into a direct qualification spot for the World Cup.

Indonesia last defeated Australia in August 1981, winning 1-0 in a World Cup qualifying match. Since then, they have lost eight times and drawn twice. The last time Indonesia even scored against Australia was in October 1984, during a 2-1 loss at the Merlion Cup.

Midfielder Thom Haye, speaking on The Haye Way podcast, said the team are not traveling to Australia just to get a draw, but to win. He also set the goal of beating Bahrain at home on March 25 to secure six crucial points.

Indonesia (in white) in their 0-0 draw with Australia in the third qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Sept. 10, 2024. Photo by AP

The first leg between Indonesia and Australia ended in a goalless draw at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in September 2024. Haye described it as the most intense and balanced match in Group C, with few clear chances.

While the upcoming clash in Sydney will be difficult, Indonesia's confidence is high, especially after their 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia in November 2024.

Recent changes in the leadership have also brought a strong Dutch influence to the team.

Former Netherlands football star Patrick Kluivert has replaced South Korean Shin Tae-yong as head coach, while Jordi Cruyff, son of Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff, has been appointed as the national team's technical advisor. The squad also continued to add Dutch-Indonesian talent through naturalization.

Four newly naturalized players have been called up for this match, including goalkeeper Emil Audero from Palermo, defender Dean James from Go Ahead Eagles, midfielder Joey Pelupessy from Lommel and striker Ole Romeny from Oxford United. In total, Indonesia now have19 naturalized players in their 29-man squad.

Meanwhile, Australia have named a 26-man squad but are dealing with significant injury concerns and poor form among key players. Defender Alessandro Circati and center-back Harry Souttar have been ruled out due to injuries, while players like Jordan Bos, Ajdin Hrustic, Riley McGree, Massimo Luongo, Mitch Duke and Awer Mabil have been left out due to underwhelming performances.

Indonesia football president Erick Thohir acknowledged Australia's struggles and emphasized that Indonesia must stay focused. He stated that the Australian squad are exhausted and dealing with injuries.

"I told Indonesia players not to let injuries or any mysterious factors affect them," Thohir told Bola.

1.98-m-tall center-back Harry Souttar will be absent from Australia's upcoming match against Indonesia due to injuries. Photo by AP

Former Australian football star Tim Cahill recognized Indonesia's rapid improvement, warning that Australia now face many challenges. He pointed out that teams like Indonesia and Saudi Arabia are now on par with Australia, while Qatar have proven their strength by winning two consecutive Asian Cups, APP reported.

Cahill, who serves as an advisor at Malaysia's top club Johor Darul Ta'zim, also noted that Australian coach Tony Popovic has had little time to train with his players. However, he expressed confidence that Popovic, his former teammate, could rise to the challenge.

Striker Adam Taggart admitted that Indonesia have improved significantly and will be a difficult opponent.

"This is a big game. Matches like these are the reason why I play football," Taggart said on the official website of the Socceroos.

Since moving from the Oceania Football Confederation to the Asian Football Confederation in 2005, Australia have qualified for every World Cup since 2006.

However, with strong competition from Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and China, their streak is now under serious threat. Japan, on the other hand, have been dominant in Group C and are almost certain to secure a direct qualification spot for the 2026 World Cup.