REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- PSSI General Chairman, Erick Thohir, confirmed the third round match of the 2026 Asian World Cup qualification against Bahrain will be played at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (GBK), Jakarta. That reassurance was conveyed by Erick after a meeting with AFC Secretary General, Datuk Windsor Paul John, in Doha, Qatar, some time ago.

“Yes, yesterday it was announced by the AFC Secretary General that the match against Bahrain remains in Indonesia,” Erick said as quoted from a written statement received by the official.

Earlier, the Bahrain Football Association (BFA) had requested FIFA that the World Cup qualifying match scheduled for March 25, 2025 be played outside Indonesia. The BFA reasoned it was to guarantee the safety of the Bahraini players.

After Indonesia's match against hosts Bahrain last October which ended in a 2-2 draw, Indonesian citizens launched a number of protests and censure against referee Ahmed Al Kaf who presided over the match. In addition, the official social media of the BFA and the Bahraini players have also been targeted by online terror.

That is why the BFA requested that the match against Indonesia be played outside the homeland. If you see the outcry and protests waged by Indonesian citizens, then it is natural that BFA feels anxious.

Nevertheless, Indonesia proved to be a safe place to host 2026 World Cup qualifying matches, when it hosted Japan and Saudi Arabia last November. In both matches, Indonesia lost to conquered Japan by a score of 0—4, and won 2—0 over Saudi Arabia. There was absolutely no terror towards the players and supporters of the opposing team at both matches.

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