Japan vs Indonesia

Japan clinched their spot in the 2026 World Cup with ease and now aim to wrap up their qualifying journey on a high note against Indonesia on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Indonesia, known as the Red and Whites, face a challenging playoff path after missing out on direct qualification. Under Patrick Kluivert’s leadership, they still have a chance to reach their first-ever World Cup.

Japan has been a consistent presence at the World Cup, qualifying for eight consecutive tournaments since their 1998 debut. The 2026 edition will be their latest appearance, with Hajime Moriyasu’s squad breezing through the qualifiers.

In the first stage, Japan dominated, winning all six games, scoring 24 goals, and keeping a clean sheet against North Korea, Syria, and Myanmar.

The second stage was equally smooth, with the Samurai Blue securing six victories in their first seven matches, becoming the first non-host nation to qualify for the World Cup.

Following a 2-0 win over Bahrain in March to confirm their qualification, Japan has been testing new players and tactics. Moriyasu opted for a heavily rotated squad in their recent 1-0 loss to Australia on Thursday, and a similar approach is likely for the final qualifier against Indonesia in Suita.

Indonesia, managed by former Ajax and Barcelona star Patrick Kluivert, has been under his guidance since January. Despite a mixed managerial track record, Kluivert has led the team to key victories.

Back-to-back 1-0 wins against Bahrain and China secured Indonesia’s place in the playoff round, keeping their World Cup hopes alive.

Indonesia will join UAE, Qatar, and Iraq in the next phase, with two more teams yet to be confirmed. The six teams will be split into two groups, with the winners earning direct World Cup berths and the runners-up facing off for a chance at the inter-confederation playoffs. Indonesia’s journey to the World Cup remains a tough one.

Their immediate focus, however, is on Japan, a team they’ve struggled against recently. In their last meeting in November, Japan cruised to a 4-0 victory in Jakarta.