Numbers that speak led to Coach Kluivert's dismissal by Indonesia

The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) ended its agreement with Coach Patrick Kluivert after a series of 8 underwhelming games, with the national team unable to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup.

On October 16, 2025, the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) officially announced the termination of Coach Patrick Kluivert’s contract along with his coaching staff. This decision came just four days after Indonesia’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, marking the end of the Dutch coach’s brief but disappointing tenure.

Patrick Kluivert was appointed by PSSI as the head coach of the Indonesian national team under a two-year contract, aiming to lead the "Garuda" to breakthrough success in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. He was supported by assistants such as Alex Pastoor, Gerald Vanenburg, and Frank Van Kempen. However, the actual results fell short of expectations.

Under Kluivert’s leadership, the Indonesian team managed only 3 wins in 8 matches, which included 6 games in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and 2 friendlies during the September FIFA Matchday. Specifically, Indonesia defeated Bahrain, China, and Chinese Taipei; drew with Lebanon; and lost to strong teams like Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.

In total, the Indonesian team scored 11 goals but conceded 15, revealing a serious imbalance between offense and defense. Heavy defeats, especially the 0-6 loss to Japan and 1-5 loss to Australia, caused Indonesian fans to lose patience with the Dutch coach.

Following a 0-1 defeat to Iraq in the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, calls for Kluivert’s removal intensified. On social media, the hashtag #KluivertOut quickly trended, reflecting fans’ frustration over the team’s poor form and lack of distinctive playing style.

Facing mounting public pressure, PSSI was forced to make the decision to end Coach Patrick Kluivert’s contract early along with his staff. His tenure concluded after only 8 matches—a small number but enough to represent a forgettable chapter in Indonesia’s international football journey.