The Indonesian U23 National Team will undertake a mission against the impossible in the final match of Group J of the 2026 U23 Asian Cup qualifiers, against the top of the standings and favorite team in this group, South Korea, at the Gelora Delta Stadium in Sidoarjo.
After two matches, South Korea sits comfortably at the top of the table with six points, courtesy of a 5-0 victory over Macau, followed by a 7-0 thrashing of Laos.
Meanwhile, the Young Garuda had a somewhat stuttering start to their group campaign. Gerald Vanenburg's squad was held to a 0-0 draw by fellow Southeast Asian side Laos before rebounding to thrash Macau 5-0, securing second place with four points.
Looking at the current standings, it's clear that Indonesia still has a chance to qualify for the AFC U23 Championship finals through group winners. A win over South Korea would ensure Indonesia tops the standings with seven points, while South Korea remains in second place with six points.
Even if Indonesia loses to South Korea, it doesn't mean their chances of making it to Saudi Arabia and competing in the finals are completely over. Indonesia still has a chance to qualify through the four best second-placed teams.
However, this path is quite challenging. In the mini-table among the second-placed teams, Indonesia currently sits in fifth place. Meanwhile, the top four spots are occupied by China, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Yemen, each with six points.
