Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto expressed his gratitude after Indonesia's national football team secured a narrow but crucial 1-0 victory over China in a 2026 World Cup qualifier at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium on Thursday evening.
"Yes, we are grateful that we won," Prabowo told reporters after the match.
He acknowledged the team’s efforts but emphasized that the journey was far from over. Looking ahead, he underscored the importance of the upcoming match against Japan and expressed hope that Indonesia could make history by qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
“It’s still a long journey. We have to win against Japan. But God willing, perhaps this time we’ll be fortunate enough to qualify,” he said.
When asked about his “lucky charm” status —Indonesia has won both matches he has attended— Prabowo simply smiled and raised his palms in a gesture of gratitude.
The match against China was vital to Indonesia's World Cup campaign. The team scored in the first half and maintained the lead until the final whistle.
The GBK Stadium erupted in celebration, with President Prabowo joining tens of thousands of fans to cheer on the Garuda squad.
Indonesia was awarded a penalty in the 40th minute after Ricky Kambuaya was fouled by Zexiang Yang in the box. Following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, referee Rustam Lutfullin confirmed the decision.
Ole Romeny stepped up and calmly converted the penalty, securing Indonesia’s win.
