Kluivert's Indonesia to face Saudi Arabia in World Cup qualifying / Photo: YASUYOSHI CHIBA - AFP
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Kluivert's Indonesia to face Saudi Arabia in World Cup qualifying
Patrick Kuivert's Indonesia were on Thursday handed a tough draw for the final round of Asian qualifying as they try to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 1938.
Coached by former Barcelona star and Dutch great Kluivert, Indonesia will play hosts Saudi Arabia and Iraq in Group B of the fourth round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 finals.
Qatar will host Group A and face the United Arab Emirates and Oman after the six-team draw took place at the Asian Football Confederation's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
Matches in both groups will be played in a single round-robin format in October in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The two group winners will join the six Asian nations already qualified for next year's global showpiece in Mexico, the United States and Canada.
The two second-placed teams will meet in November, with the winner over two legs entering an intercontinental playoff for the final spot at the 48-team World Cup.
Indonesia have embarked on a recruitment drive of Dutch-born players and backroom staff to bolster their bid for a first World Cup finals berth since becoming an independent nation.
Jordi Cruyff, son of Dutch football legend Johan, was in February appointed technical adviser to the Football Association of Indonesia to work alongside Kluivert.
Indonesia last qualified for a World Cup while still under Dutch colonial rule and lost 6-0 to Hungary in their only match of that tournament, hosted by France.
They will face a difficult task against Middle East giants Saudi Arabia, who have home advantage and will be heavily favoured to top Group B.
The Saudis have qualified for the World Cup on seven previous occasions including the last two editions.
Iraq have only qualified once in their history, in 1986.
Qatar hosted the last World Cup in 2022 on their only appearance in the finals and will be favourites to top Group A at home.
The United Arab Emirates reached the World Cup one time, in 1990, while Oman have never qualified.
Australia, Japan, Jordan, Iran, South Korea and Uzbekistan have already secured their World Cup berths from the Asian confederation.
D.Khalil--SF-PST
