Missing out on World Cup qualification, Indonesian star utters words that touch fans' hearts

Indonesia's star player, Thom Haye, admits he still feels regret that Indonesia failed to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup.

Midfielder Thom Haye confessed he has not yet come to terms with Indonesia's official exit from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Nevertheless, the Dutch-born player affirmed he will quickly recover, set aside his sadness, and continue to contribute to Persib Bandung in the Super League.

After the PSBS Biak vs Persib Bandung match in the Super League on October 17, Thom Haye openly admitted that the recent days have been extremely challenging for him. “I have to say that the past few days have been really tough. The outcome we achieved is hard to accept, and it hurts deeply.”, Haye shared this in an interview posted on the official Liga 1 Match account.

However, the 30-year-old midfielder believes the best way to overcome disappointment is to keep playing rather than dwelling in sorrow. “From another perspective, I think the only way to clear my mind is to be on the field, playing football and giving my best. I told myself to enjoy every moment, forget everything else, and I managed to do that,” Haye added.

The dream of participating in the world's biggest football event for Indonesian fans has come to an end. Under coach Patrick Kluivert’s leadership, the archipelago team finished last in Group B during the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup Asian qualifiers.

In a group featuring strong opponents like Saudi Arabia and Iraq, Haye and his teammates failed to cause an upset, losing 2-3 to Saudi Arabia and 0-1 to Iraq.

Earlier, images of Thom Haye crying after the 0-1 loss to Iraq moved Indonesian fans deeply. Many believe his fighting spirit and genuine emotions are proof of his love for the red and white jersey of the national team.

Although Indonesia will not appear in the 2026 World Cup, fans still have reasons to believe in the future with passionate players like Thom Haye. Haye himself confirmed he will keep striving to help Persib succeed this season and is ready to return to the national team whenever called up.