Jordan Cancels Friendly Against Indonesia, PSSI Apologizes and Faces Opponent Crisis

The Jordan Football Association (Jordan FA) officially announced the cancellation of the friendly match against the Indonesia national team scheduled to take place at Amman International Stadium on Friday, 13 November 2026. The decision was made after PSSI submitted a cancellation request along with an apology, as stated by the Jordan FA on its official page.

In a statement quoted by Bola.com, the Jordan FA said the match was canceled at PSSI's request. "The international friendly originally scheduled to bring together the Jordan national team and the Indonesia national team on Friday night, 13 November, in the capital Amman, is confirmed canceled," the federation wrote. "The cancellation was made at the request of PSSI, which has conveyed an apology for being unable to play the match."

The reasons behind the cancellation are layered. PSSI considers the security situation in the Middle East region still a primary consideration for not sending the Garuda squad to Jordan. On the other hand, Indonesia also could not host Jordan because the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK) in Jakarta is undergoing renovation. As a result, the November 2026 FIFA Matchday became a difficult window to use.

There had been speculation that the match would be moved to Turkey, but the rumor was denied. Until four days before the international break opened, the Indonesia national team had not secured a friendly opponent. PSSI chose to leave the certainty of the match to the National Team Body (BTN), which must now move quickly to find an alternative.

"The cancellation was made at the request of PSSI, which has conveyed an apology for being unable to play the match," the Jordan FA official statement read.

This decision leaves homework for the Indonesia national team coach. International friendlies are an important means to test tactics and give players playing minutes before official tournaments. With the Asian Cup postponed to December 2027, the preparation schedule becomes looser, but it also demands careful planning so that momentum is not lost.

For Jordan, the cancellation is also detrimental because they lose the opportunity to test their strength at home. The Jordan FA appears to have prepared this match well, including possibly having arranged accommodation and match promotion. PSSI's apology at least eased tensions, but good relations between federations still need to be maintained.

Going forward, PSSI and BTN are required to be more agile in locking in friendly opponents. A neutral option outside the Middle East, such as Malaysia, Thailand, or even European countries with adequate facilities, could be a solution. However, with time increasingly tight, certainty of an opponent in the near future will be an indicator of the seriousness of the Indonesia national team's preparation for the next competition.