The Indonesian football team with cerebral palsy made history by securing a ticket to the main round of the 2026 IFCPF World Cup in the United States, after defeating Thailand 3-1 in the semifinals of the 2025 IFCPF Asia Oceania Cup at Sriwedari Stadium in Solo, Thursday.
Indonesian team coach Yanuar Dhuma Ardhiyanto said this success was an important milestone for the development of cerebral palsy football in the country.
"Thank God, we are very grateful for this result. This is a moment of resurgence for Indonesian cerebral palsy football, having qualified for the World Cup for the first time," Yanuar said in an official statement.
Before the tournament began, Indonesia was not targeting a ticket to the 2026 World Cup. Technically, Iran and Australia were more favored to qualify.
However, surprise after surprise came when Indonesia beat Australia 2-1 and Japan 1-0, which became a confidence capital for heading into the semifinals.
"Our initial target was just to finish in the top four. But after seeing how the game progressed, I raised my target to reach the final. Thank God, we achieved it," said Yanuar.
