Indonesian FA Issues Ultimatum to Shin Tae-yong: Team Must Finish in Top Four, or Face Sacking if No Points Against Japan and Saudi Arabia

According to Indonesian media reports, the chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Erick Thohir, has issued a “military order” to national team head coach Shin Tae-yong.

“I just had a conversation with Coach Shin Tae-yong. The target for the Indonesian team in the 18-team qualification round for the 2026 World Cup is to finish in the top four. Coach Shin needs to be fully prepared to secure points in the home matches against Japan and Saudi Arabia. Although the opponents are strong, as long as we perform well, we can narrow the gap. Two teams have already changed their coaches, which shows that all football associations have set extremely high standards for qualifying for the World Cup,” said Thohir.

Indonesian media believe that Thohir’s words put immense pressure on Coach Shin Tae-yong. This is the first time the Indonesian national team has reached the third stage of World Cup qualification, but turning dreams into reality is not easy. Despite having 13 expensive naturalized players, the team has only managed three draws and one loss in the first four matches, and victory seems elusive.

However, Thohir’s statement carries the tone of an ultimatum. Indonesian media report that if the team fails to secure points in the upcoming matches against Japan and Saudi Arabia, Shin Tae-yong will be sacked.

Currently, Indonesia still has a chance to advance to the next stage. Although they are at the bottom of Group C, they have the same number of points as China and are only two points behind Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.

Japan currently leads the group with four wins and 10 points. According to the rules, the top two teams in the group will directly qualify for the World Cup finals, while the third and fourth-placed teams will enter the playoffs. The Indonesian FA hopes that the national team can at least secure a playoff spot.