AFC’s decision to choose Qatar to host Asian Cup 2023 Craft Indonesian national team must be ready to face tough opponents in the group stage of the highest interstate football championship in the yellow continent region.

The Indonesian national team is the country with the lowest ranking compared to other competitors in the Asian Cup 2023. Currently, the Red and White team is ranked 152 on the FIFA list.

Due to this poor ranking, Indonesia was placed in pot 4 along with five other countries ranked outside the top 100, such as India, Tajikistan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

By occupying pot 4 at the time of the draw or later, Indonesia must be ready to meet the big names.

Qatar, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Saudi Arabia who occupy the first pot have the same great chance to face Indonesia.

Additionally, there are also countries in pot two that have fairly well-known strength in the Asian region, such as Iraq, UAE, Oman, China, Syria, and Vietnam.

While the third pot is occupied by countries that are in the top 100 of the FIFA rankings, namely Lebanon, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Bahrain, Palestine and Kyrgyzstan.

The 2023 Asian Cup is the fifth tournament of the Garuda team in the Asian scene after 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2007. Of the five participations, the Indonesian national team has always remained in the group stage.

In these different editions, the pillars of Indonesia have tasted the opportunity to meet high-level Asian countries such as South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, China, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

(nva/har)