Kluivert questions AFC’s call before Indonesia–Saudi World Cup playoff in Jeddah

Controversial AFC Referee Appointment

Dutch coach Patrick Kluivert, head coach of the Indonesia national team, expressed clear frustration with the Asian Football Confederation’s decision to appoint Kuwaiti referee Ahmed Al-Ali to oversee the decisive World Cup 2026 playoff match against Saudi Arabia. The game is set to take place in the Al-Inma Stadium in Jeddah as part of Group B of the Asian qualifiers.

The press conference ahead of the match saw Kluivert say, "I don’t understand why a Kuwaiti referee was chosen for this crucial showdown, but we will play and not get distracted by refereeing." He added that he never dwells on nationality or sanctions; his focus remains on tomorrow’s match and the overwhelming support from fans in Indonesia.

"We’ve played in Saudi before and are accustomed to the atmosphere at the Al-Inma Stadium. We’ve kept our players away from distractions, and their focus is on the game," he continued. He insisted the team is fully prepared for a strong, important encounter and promised to deliver their best to reach the World Cup, noting that European-based players arrived late due to preparations but that would not be an excuse.

Concluding his remarks, Kluivert emphasized the plan to exploit set-pieces and warned that Indonesia would be a difficult opponent until the final whistle.

Asian Playoff Format and Team Form

The Asian confederation’s playoff system stipulates that group winners advance directly to the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The runners-up meet two-legged ties to determine who advances to the intercontinental playoff in March 2026, which will decide the last two World Cup berths.

In the event of a points tie, the tiebreakers are applied in the following order: goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head results, and fair play (yellow and red cards).

Saudi Arabia’s road to the World Cup 2026 saw them placed in Group 3 alongside Japan, Australia, Indonesia, China, and Bahrain. The Saudis finished third with 13 points—3 wins, 4 draws, 3 losses, 7 goals for and 8 against.

Indonesia, meanwhile, finished fourth with 12 points, recording 3 wins, 3 draws, 4 losses, 9 goals for and 10 against. Key injuries also hit Indonesia, with goalkeeper Emil Audero sidelined due to an injury sustained with Cremonese, and youngster Marcelino Ferdinand out with a knee/hamstring issue, reducing depth ahead of a pivotal fixture.

Indonesian media cautioned about external pressures and what they termed a form of psychological warfare surrounding the match, urging players to ignore the noise and focus on their performance on the pitch. They stressed that the real battle would unfold at the Al-Inma Stadium against a determined Saudi side and that the team’s future in the qualifying campaign would hinge on performance over pedigree or headlines.

In summarizing the playoff mechanics, officials noted that the top team from each group progresses directly to the World Cup, while the second-placed teams face off for a right to advance to the intercontinental playoff—underscoring how every goal, card, and tactical move could tilt the scales in a race to 2026.

Punchlines to close on a lighter note: If passion were a card, Kluivert would be getting a couple of yellows for enthusiasm—referees, take notes. And if optimism counted toward qualification, Indonesia would have booked a direct flight to the World Cup already—just sayin’.