Indonesia's top prodigy unexpectedly eliminated before the 4th round of World Cup qualifiers

Coach Patrick Kluivert has removed 7 players from the roster in preparation for the 2026 World Cup 4th qualifying round, with Marselino Ferdinan being a significant omission.

The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) recently announced a list of 28 players summoned to prepare for two crucial matches against Saudi Arabia and Iraq in the 4th round of the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifiers. However, the most notable aspect of this list is that Coach Patrick Kluivert excluded 7 players who have frequently represented the national team.

The most surprising name is Marselino Ferdinan. The midfielder, currently playing for AS Trencin (Slovakia), has always been a regular pick for previous coaches. Marselino also recently participated in friendly matches against Taiwan and Lebanon in September. However, this time he is not included in Kluivert’s plans for the two decisive Group B matches.

Additionally, the Dutch-origin duo Mees Hilgers (FC Twente) and Ivar Jenner were also not called up. Hilgers has yet to play a single minute for his club this season, while the reason for Jenner’s exclusion has not been clearly disclosed by PSSI or the coaching staff.

In the attack, Rafael Struick and Adrian Wibowo are also missing. This is regrettable, especially for Wibowo, who recently made his debut for the Indonesian national team in a draw against Lebanon during the FIFA Matchday early September. It is believed that Coach Kluivert aims to give opportunities to other players like Ole Romeny, a forward recently recovered from injury, along with winger Egy Maulana Vikri of Dewa United.

Two other notable absences are Pratama Arhan and Asnawi Mangkualam, both currently playing in the Thai League. They have regularly featured in major campaigns for Indonesia’s national team, but this time they failed to convince the Dutch strategist.

The exclusion of 7 key players who have been long-time members shows that Coach Patrick Kluivert is looking to refresh the squad and find the best lineup to face two very strong opponents, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. This also opens opportunities for younger or less experienced players to prove themselves, creating fair competition for starting positions.

Despite missing many familiar faces, the Indonesian national team still aims to achieve positive results to keep hopes alive for advancing further in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.