China’s journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to an unexpected halt on Thursday night, following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Indonesia in a crucial AFC qualifying match in Jakarta.
The decisive moment arrived just before halftime when China’s right-back Yang Zexiang committed a foul on Indonesian midfielder Ricky Kambuaya inside the penalty area. Ole Romeny, the forward from Oxford United representing Indonesia, calmly converted the penalty in the 45th minute, giving the hosts the lead.
Despite creating several opportunities, including promising efforts from 18-year-old Wang Yudong, China was unable to find an equalizer. Their challenge intensified when defender Han Pengfei suffered an injury in the first half, further depleting their defensive options.
With only one game remaining in Group C, China finds itself at the bottom of the group with six points from nine matches. Indonesia’s victory propels them to third place with 12 points. The top two teams from each group secure direct qualification for the World Cup, while the third and fourth-placed teams advance to the next phase of qualifying.
Japan and Iran have already clinched their spots from Asia for the expanded 48-team tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Head coach Branko Ivankovic expressed his disappointment but remained optimistic about the team’s future. “This team has been fighting for this goal for over 20 years,” Ivankovic said after the game. “We believed that advancing from this tough group would enhance our chances of qualifying. Although we didn’t succeed, I take full responsibility for the outcome.”
Ivankovic, who took charge of the national team just over a year ago, highlighted the progress and the infusion of young talent into the squad. “We’ve introduced a younger generation of players who have injected energy into the team,” he added. “Based on their performances, I believe this team has a promising future.”
He also acknowledged Indonesia’s efforts, noting, “Indonesia has added new talent, including both naturalized and local players. They’re young, strong, and showed great quality today.”
China’s focus now shifts to building on the experience gained during this qualifying campaign, with hopes of returning stronger in future competitions.
