China's national football team suffered a crushing blow to their 2026 FIFA World Cup ambitions with a 1-0 loss to Indonesia in Jakarta on Thursday, marking their elimination from Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifying. The defeat leaves China at the bottom of Group C with no mathematical path to qualification.
The decisive moment came just before halftime when Indonesia's Ole Romeny converted a penalty after a foul by Chinese defender Yang Zexiang. Despite spirited efforts from teenage striker Wang Yudong, who forced multiple saves from Indonesia's goalkeeper, China failed to equalize against a revitalized Indonesian squad featuring naturalized players.
Head coach Branko Ivankovic shouldered responsibility for the outcome, telling reporters: "As head coach, I definitely bear significant responsibility. We believed we could advance from this tough group, but fell short." The Croatian manager highlighted progress in youth development during his tenure, praising younger players' contributions while acknowledging Indonesia's effective recruitment strategy.
With Japan and Iran already securing World Cup berths from Asia, China's elimination underscores ongoing challenges in international football competitiveness. The result leaves Indonesia third in Group C with 12 points, keeping their qualification hopes alive through potential playoff rounds.
