With their World Cup dreams hanging by a thread, the Chinese national football team is set to face Indonesia in a do-or-die clash in the penultimate round of the AFC 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Head coach Branko Ivanković has called on his players to stay confident and fight for every point, declaring, “We remain optimistic. No matter the opponent, our goal is always to win.”
After wrapping up final preparations in Shanghai, the team flew directly to Jakarta earlier this week. Ivanković praised the squad’s effort during training and made it clear that China is determined to complete the double over Indonesia, having won the first leg 2-1 at home in October 2023.
High Stakes and High Pressure
Much has changed since that first encounter. Indonesia has appointed legendary Dutch forward Patrick Kluivert as their new head coach, while local reports indicate that up to six Indonesian players may miss the match due to injury.
China, too, is dealing with key absences. Goal-scorers from the previous clash, Baihelamu and Zhang Yuning, will not feature, the former due to injury and the latter’s status uncertain. Defensive standout Jiang Shenglong and midfielder Xie Wenneng are also sidelined, while talisman Wu Lei is out injured.
Despite the setbacks, Ivanković remains positive. “We’ve trained well. Every player understands the importance of this game. We’re here to win,” he said during a pre-match press conference.
The Qualification Picture
China currently sits tied with Bahrain at six points in Group C, three behind fourth-placed Indonesia. With only the top four teams from each group advancing to the next round of qualification, anything less than a win will effectively eliminate China from contention.
Victory over Indonesia would draw China level on points and give them a head-to-head advantage. A draw or defeat, however, would render their final group match against Bahrain virtually meaningless.
Group leaders Japan have already secured qualification with six wins and two draws. They face Australia next, a match where Japan may choose to rest players, potentially giving Australia an edge in securing second place.
Regional Rivalries Heating Up
Elsewhere, Group B remains tightly contested. South Korea (16 points) and Jordan (13 points) are narrowly ahead of Iraq (12 points) and Oman (10 points). With both South Korea and Jordan facing tough away matches, the standings could shift dramatically depending on this week’s results.
In Group A, Iran has also secured an early qualification with six wins and two draws. Uzbekistan (17 points) faces the UAE (13 points) in a crucial showdown, where a win for Uzbekistan would guarantee a direct ticket to the final round of World Cup qualifiers.
As the Chinese squad prepares for the critical battle in Jakarta’s high-stakes heat and hostile stadium, fans back home remain cautiously hopeful. The absence of key players will test the team’s depth and resilience, but the mission is clear: win or wave goodbye to the 2026 World Cup.
“It’s not just about tactics or injuries now,” Ivanković said. “It’s about belief. If we want to keep our dream alive, we must give everything on that pitch.”
