Jakarta. The Indonesian National Football Team is set to face the Philippines in the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers for Group F at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (GBK) in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday. This match is crucial as it could pave the way for the Garuda squad to advance to the third round of the Asian zone qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
One of the players ready to take the field is defender Jay Idzes. The Venezia player, who did not play in Indonesia's defeat to Iraq, emphasized the importance of not underestimating the Philippines. He mentioned that he had watched the Philippines' recent match against Vietnam and recognized their strength and skill.
"I watched their game against Vietnam. The Philippines created many chances, and we must not underestimate them," he said after a training session at Madya Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, on Sunday.
Idzes highlighted that the Philippines have several good players and solid gameplay. Regarding his readiness, Idzes assured that he is not experiencing jet lag, having arrived in Indonesia well in advance.
"I've been here for a few days. I feel good, even though I arrived just a day before the Iraq game. Recovery has been good now," he said.
Idzes is expected to reinforce Indonesia's defense against the Philippines, especially since key player Jordi Amat will miss the crucial match due to a red card suspension.
Indonesia's right-back, Asnawi Mangkualam, confirmed that the Garuda squad is prepared to give their all in the upcoming match.
"We still have one more chance to reach the third round. On June 11th (against the Philippines), we will strive to get the points we need to advance to the next round," Asnawi said.
In their previous match, Indonesia suffered a 0-2 defeat against Iraq in front of tens of thousands of Garuda supporters. The goals were scored by Aymen Hussein (54) from the penalty spot and Ali Jasim (88) following a blunder by goalkeeper Ernando Ari. Indonesia played with 10 men from the 59th minute after Jordi Amat received a direct red card for a foul on Youssef Amyn near the penalty area.
Reflecting on the defeat, Asnawi apologized for not being able to deliver a victory to the supporters.
In another Group F match, Vietnam managed a 3-2 victory over the Philippines. The Golden Star, Vietnam's nickname, now closely follows Indonesia in the Group F standings of the 2026 World Cup Asian zone qualifiers.
Vietnam sits in third place with 6 points, while Indonesia holds second place with 7 points, trailing Iraq, which has a perfect score of 15 points.
This means that Indonesia must win against the Philippines in the final Group F match to secure a place in the third round without having to rely on the outcome of the Iraq vs. Vietnam match.
