Inp.polri.go.id - Jeddah. Indonesia’s national football team narrowly lost 2–3 to Saudi Arabia in a heated Group B clash of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers at King Abdullah Sports City early Thursday (9/10/2025), a match defined by three penalty kicks and late drama.

“We played with courage and intensity, but small mistakes cost us the result,” head coach Patrick Kluivert said after the game, urging his team to regroup for the next round, as reported by antaranews.com.

Indonesia struck first in the 11th minute through Kevin Diks’ precise penalty after a VAR-confirmed handball. However, Saudi Arabia quickly equalized via Saleh Abu Alshamat before Feras Al-Buraikan converted his own penalty to make it 2–1. Al-Buraikan added another in the 62nd minute, while Diks netted a second penalty late in the match to close the gap to 2–3.

Despite Saudi Arabia finishing with ten men, Indonesia could not find an equalizer. The result leaves Saudi Arabia atop Group B, while Indonesia face an uphill battle to advance.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)