JAKARTA – Head coach of the Indonesian U-17 national team, Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, has issued a heartfelt apology following his team’s inability to advance to the quarter-finals of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2026. This unfortunate outcome was sealed after the young Garuda squad suffered a 1-3 defeat against football powerhouse Japan in their final Group B match, held in Jeddah on Tuesday (12/5/2026) night local time.
The loss condemned Indonesia U-17 to the bottom of Group B, accumulating just three points from three grueling matches. This result not only dashed their hopes of progressing to the knockout phase but also extinguished their dream of securing a coveted spot in the U-17 World Cup. Despite a valiant effort, the team fell short of their ambitious targets for the tournament.
Ultimately, Indonesia was eliminated due to an inferior head-to-head goal difference against rivals China and Qatar, with all three teams finishing with an identical three points. Interestingly, China, who had initially lost 0-1 to Indonesia in their opening fixture, managed to qualify alongside Japan after securing a crucial 2-0 victory over Qatar. The tournament’s regulations prioritize head-to-head records when determining rankings among teams with equal points, a rule that unfortunately worked against the Indonesian side.
In the wake of the team’s exit, Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto expressed his full accountability for the disappointing performance. The former Indonesian national team striker also extended his profound gratitude to all the dedicated staff and players for their unwavering commitment and hard work throughout the challenging tournament, acknowledging their immense efforts despite the outcome.
“On behalf of myself and as the head coach, as the person fully responsible for this team, I sincerely apologize for this failure,” Kurniawan stated in an audio recording released by the PSSI. He further added, “However, I remain incredibly thankful to all the staff supporting the team and also grateful for the relentless hard work displayed by the players.”
Despite failing to meet their primary objective, Kurniawan urged the young players not to be consumed by disappointment. He emphasized that the journey ahead for these emerging Indonesian talents is still exceptionally long, filled with countless opportunities for growth and development within the world of professional football.
According to the 49-year-old coach, the bitter experience endured during the AFC U-17 Asian Cup must serve as a crucial lesson, propelling them to continuously evolve and mature into more accomplished players in the future. This setback, he believes, is merely a stepping stone on their path to achieving greatness.
“Their careers are still long. I truly hope they continue to grow, develop, and ultimately become players who can achieve significant success in the years to come,” Kurniawan passionately conveyed. He further reiterated his unwavering readiness to shoulder the full responsibility for the poor results achieved by Indonesia in this particular tournament, standing firm in his commitment.
Kurniawan then delivered a heartfelt and specific message to his players, encouraging them not to surrender their dreams despite missing out on the U-17 World Cup. He reminded them that this is not an end but rather a significant moment for reflection and renewed determination.
“I conveyed to them that this is not the end of everything. Their careers are still extensive; they must continue to train diligently and strive to become true professional players,” he affirmed. Kurniawan concluded by expressing his profound hope that these talented young players will steadfastly maintain their ambition to reach even higher levels with the Indonesian national team, aspiring for future glory.
“And I earnestly hope they can feature for the national team at subsequent levels, eventually culminating in playing for the senior team,” Kurniawan passionately articulated, envisioning a bright future for these promising athletes on the international stage.
Summary
Indonesia U-17 head coach Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto apologized after the team failed to advance from the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2026 group stage. Their elimination, sealed by a 1-3 defeat to Japan and an inferior head-to-head goal difference, also ended their U-17 World Cup aspirations. Kurniawan took full accountability for the disappointing performance while expressing gratitude to his staff and players for their dedication.
Despite the failure, Kurniawan urged the young players not to be disheartened, emphasizing that their careers are long and this setback should be a lesson for continuous growth. He encouraged them to continue striving for development in professional football. The coach expressed hope they would aspire to represent the Indonesian national team at higher levels, eventually reaching the senior squad.