Southeast Asian fans reacted strongly when Indonesia missed out on the 2026 World Cup.

Football fans in Southeast Asia showed lively reactions following Indonesia's exit from the 2026 World Cup qualification rounds.

In the early hours of October 12 (Vietnam time), Indonesia faced Iraq at King Abdullah Sports City, competing in Group B of the fourth round of qualifiers. The 2026 World Cup in the Asian zone. Despite confident play and good ball control, coach Patrick Kluivert’s squad could not break through Iraq’s solid defense.

The team in red pressed forward in the second half, but all their chances were thwarted. Their efforts became even harder as they received multiple yellow cards. After more than 100 tense minutes, Indonesia lost 0-1, officially ending their World Cup campaign with two defeats.

After the match, many football fans across Southeast Asia actively discussed Indonesia’s defeat on various social media platforms:

A fan named Wan Safi commented: "The truth is Indonesia fought with all their might. However, their cohesion and experience couldn’t match Iraq’s. My sincere condolences to you all."

Meanwhile, a supporter from Malaysia sarcastically remarked: "No more phrases like ‘different class’ or ‘we are World Cup level.’ The reality is we are at the same level as AFF teams that have never won."

A third fan blamed the referee: "Honestly, the referee made many controversial decisions, which caused both Indonesian players and fans to lose their composure on the field."

Another fan offered comfort: "Anyway, Indonesia was the only Southeast Asian representative to reach this stage. I respect their fighting spirit."

Indonesia’s national team ended their quest for a 2026 World Cup spot with two consecutive losses in Group B of the fourth qualifying round. Earlier, coach Patrick Kluivert’s squad suffered a bitter 2-3 defeat to Saudi Arabia.

Although eliminated, Indonesia left a strong impression on Southeast Asian football fans thanks to their significant technical progress, aggressive naturalization policies, and substantial financial investment.

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