Japan vs Indonesia: Match Preview and Prediction for Final World Cup Qualifier

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The clash between Japan and Indonesia will take place in the final match of the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in the Asian zone. The match is scheduled to kick off at Suita City Stadium on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 05:35 AM WIB (Western Indonesia Time), and will be broadcast live on RCTI and Vision+.

Japan, widely known as the Blue Samurai, has already secured their place in the 2026 World Cup with minimal resistance. They now aim to wrap up their qualifying campaign with a win. Meanwhile, Indonesia still faces a challenging path.

After failing to qualify automatically, the Garuda Squad must fight to advance to the fourth round. However, they still have a chance to make history by securing Indonesia’s first-ever appearance in a World Cup.

Over the past few decades, Japan has become a regular fixture at the World Cup. Since their debut in 1998, they have qualified for seven consecutive editions. The 2026 tournament will mark their eighth appearance on the global stage.

Led by coach Hajime Moriyasu, Japan breezed through the Asian zone qualifiers. They won all six matches in the second round, scoring 24 goals and conceding none against North Korea, Syria, and Myanmar.

Their strong form continued into the third round, where they won six of their first seven matches. Japan became the first non-host nation to secure a World Cup berth, celebrating qualification with a 2-0 victory over Bahrain last March. Since then, Moriyasu has used the opportunity to rotate his squad and test new players.

This experimentation was evident in Japan’s recent 1-0 loss to Australia. Moriyasu fielded an altered lineup and tested different tactics, a trend that could continue in their upcoming match against Indonesia.

Indonesia, on the other hand, kept their World Cup dream alive after defeating Bahrain and China 1-0 in back-to-back matches. Under coach Patrick Kluivert, Indonesia clinched a place in the fourth round and now has a chance to join teams like the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Iraq in the next phase.

In the fourth round, six teams will be divided into two groups. The winners of each group will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the runners-up will face off for a chance to compete in the inter-confederation playoff.

Indonesia’s path remains difficult, starting with the challenge of facing Japan. Their last encounter in November 2024 ended in a 4-0 loss for Indonesia at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta.

Latest Team News

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu is expected to continue experimenting with his lineup. According to Sportsmole, regulars like Kaoru Mitoma, Ao Tanaka, Ko Itakura, Ayase Ueda, and Hidemasa Morita are not in the main squad.

Yu Hirakawa from Bristol City and Kota Tawaratsumida of FC Tokyo made their international debuts against Australia. Both played just behind Blackburn Rovers striker Yuki Ohashi, who was making his second appearance.

Following an underwhelming performance against Australia, Moriyasu may revise his starting eleven. Liverpool’s Wataru Endo is among those likely to return to Japan’s midfield when they face Indonesia.

For Indonesia, the previous match against China marked international debuts for goalkeeper Emil Audero (Palermo) and Yance Sayuri, who played on the right flank. Audero impressed by stopping China’s only shot on target.

Indonesia reports no new injuries, giving coach Patrick Kluivert full flexibility in choosing his squad for the Japan clash.

Head-to-Head

Japan and Indonesia have met 17 times. Japan leads with 10 wins, while Indonesia has won five matches. Two encounters ended in a draw. Their most recent meeting was during the third round in November, which ended with Japan securing a 4-0 victory.

Japan is the top-scoring team in Group C with 24 goals. In the latest FIFA rankings, Japan stands at 15th, while Indonesia is ranked 123rd.

Predicted Lineups

Japan: Kosei Tani; Koki Machida, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Hiroki Sakine; Daichi Kamada, Takefusa Kubo, Wataru Endo, Joel Chima Fujita; Keito Nakamura, Yu Hirakawa; Shuto Machino

Coach: Hajime Moriyasu

Indonesia: Emil Audero; Justin Hubner, Jay Idzes, Rizky Ridho; Calvin Verdonk, Joey Pelupessy, Thom Haye, Yance Sayuri; Ricky Kambuaya, Egy Maulana Vikri; Ole Romeny

Coach: Patrick Kluivert

Prediction

Japan is expected to conclude their successful qualifying campaign with a strong performance at home. Even with squad rotations, Japan's depth and quality remain superior. Combined with their dominant head-to-head record and home advantage, Japan is predicted to secure victory over Indonesia in this match.

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