Indonesia National Team: Herdman Welcomes Players for 2026 FIFA Series

KOMPAS.com – A number of Indonesian national team players have arrived at the hotel where they are staying ahead of the first match against Saint Kitts and Nevis in the 2026 FIFA Series.

The moment the players arrived was uploaded on the official Instagram of the Indonesian National Team on Monday (23/3/2026).

In the video, several players who are part of the 24 players included in the final squad have arrived at the Fairmont hotel, Jakarta.

The presence of these players received a warm welcome from the head coach, John Herdman, as well as a number of coaching staff.

Also read: Saint Kitts and Nevis releases squad to face Indonesian national team, includes Liverpool players

John Herdman was recorded greeting the players and briefly chatting when they arrived at the hotel.

The Indonesian national team will prepare to play their first match in the 2026 FIFA Series against Saint Kitts and Nevis on Friday (27/3/2026) evening WIB at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Senayan, Jakarta.

Elkan Baggott is in the spotlight

Of the many players present, Elkan Baggott’s presence became an attraction.

The player from Ipswich Town returned to the Indonesian national team after being absent for more than two years playing for Garuda after the last time at the 2023 Asian Cup.

Baggott’s arrival was immediately welcomed by the coaching staff and other Indonesian national team players.

Apart from Elkan Baggott, there are also a number of players who play in the Super League, such as Eliano Reijnders, Beckham Putra, Rizky Ridho, Nadeo Argawinata, Cahya Supriadi, and Ivar Jenner.

Also read: Indonesian National Team Faces FIFA Series, Observer Says Herdman Doesn’t Have Much Time

Previously, the Chairman of the National Team Agency (BTN), Sumardji, revealed that the Indonesian National Team players were scheduled to arrive in Jakarta in stages ahead of the 2026 FIFA Series.

He explained that the Garuda squad would start gathering on March 24 2026 or three days before the first match of the tournament.

According to Sumardji, the players competing in the Indonesian Super League will arrive first, then followed by the diaspora players who play abroad.

“Local players gather on March 22. Diaspora players gather from March 23-24. All players gather on March 24,” said Sumardji, Thursday (19/3/2026).

Also read: Indonesian National Team Squad in the 2026 FIFA Series, Persija Contributes the Most Players

John Herdman Strikes Out 17 Players

John Herdman initially called up 41 players to the temporary squad for the Indonesian national team before narrowing it down to 24 names to take to the 2026 FIFA Series.