Naturalized Indonesian team, six players unemployed at club level

(NLDO) - Indonesia is focusing on the 4th qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup - Asia region but is facing a big internal problem, 6 key players are unemployed.

As the 4th qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia is approaching, the Indonesian team is facing a serious problem, six key players are falling into a state of... unemployment.

According to Bola , by the end of June 2025, the Indonesian team had at least 6 players of European origin who had not signed a contract with any club for the 2025-2026 season. Notably, these people all played key roles under coach Patrick Kluivert, including: Justin Hubner, Rafael Struick, Thom Haye, Shayne Pattynama, Jordi Amat and Nathan Tjoe-A-On.

This situation has caused many obstacles in the team's preparation process. The lack of a stable playing environment can affect performance, fitness and ball feel. These are vital factors in the journey to conquer a ticket to the World Cup finals of Indonesian football.

The pressure was further increased when the AFC suddenly changed its decision, from holding the fourth round at a neutral venue to handing over the hosting rights to Qatar and Saudi Arabia - two direct rivals of Indonesia. This means that coach Kluivert's team will have to compete in unfavorable conditions, both geographically and in terms of audience pressure.

According to the schedule, Indonesia will enter the fourth round from October 8 to 14, facing strong teams including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq and Oman.

In this context, the fact that six key players have not found a new destination is not only a personal problem, but is becoming a difficult problem for both PSSI and the coaching staff if they want to turn the World Cup dream into reality.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/sau-cau-thu-nhap-tich-cua-indonesia-cung-that-nghiep-cap-clb-196250623173956773.htm