Teknowarta – Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, coach of the Indonesia U-17 National Team, delivered a poignant message to his players following their unsuccessful bid to qualify for the 2026 U-17 World Cup. Kurniawan urged his young squad not to surrender, emphasizing that the careers of talents like Mathew Baker are still very much in their early stages.
The Indonesia U-17 National Team suffered a 1-3 defeat at the hands of Japan in their decisive final Group B match of the 2026 U-17 Asian Cup. This significant loss meant that the ‘Young Garuda’ not only failed to advance to the quarter-finals but also missed out on securing a coveted spot in the upcoming 2026 U-17 World Cup.
Consequently, the Indonesia U-17 squad concluded their campaign at the bottom of Group B, having accumulated just three points. Their position was determined by head-to-head records, where they fell short against both China and Qatar. Japan, meanwhile, emerged as the dominant group winners, progressing to the quarter-finals alongside China, who finished as runners-up.
Despite this disappointing outcome, Kurniawan firmly asserted that this setback is far from the end for his players. He passionately encouraged the Indonesia U-17 squad members to hold their heads high and continuously hone their skills, striving for perpetual improvement in their football journey.
“I told them that this is not the end of everything,” Kurniawan stated in an official release on Wednesday (May 13, 2026). “Their careers are still long. Keep training, keep striving to become true professional players.”
Kurniawan expressed his earnest hope that his proteges would continue to demonstrate positive progress. “I hope they can play for the national team at the next levels, and eventually reach the senior national team squad,” he articulated, clearly outlining his vision for their future development within Indonesian football.
As head coach, Kurniawan extended his sincere apologies to the Indonesian public for the Indonesia U-17 National Team’s failure to qualify. The 49-year-old coach also emphatically stated that he takes full responsibility for this setback in the team’s performance.
“On behalf of myself and as head coach, as the person in charge of this team, I apologize for this failure,” Kurniawan conveyed. “However, I still want to thank all the staff behind the team, and I also thank the players for their hard work.”
Indonesia U-17 National Team Fails to Reach 2026 U-17 World Cup! Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto Apologizes and Takes Responsibility
“As head coach, I will, of course, take full responsibility for the failure to replicate last year’s team success,” he concluded, acknowledging the high expectations.
This recent failure can certainly be considered a significant setback for Indonesian youth football. Especially considering that in the previous edition, Nova Arianto successfully guided the Indonesia U-17 National Team past the group stage and secured a spot in the 2025 U-17 World Cup.
Summary
Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, coach of the Indonesia U-17 National Team, delivered a poignant message to his players after their exit from the 2026 U-17 Asian Cup and failure to qualify for the 2026 U-17 World Cup. The team suffered a 1-3 defeat against Japan, finishing last in Group B. Kurniawan urged his young squad not to surrender, emphasizing that their careers are still in the early stages and they should continue to train and strive for improvement.
He expressed hope that the players would progress to higher national team levels, including the senior squad. Kurniawan sincerely apologized to the Indonesian public for the team’s failure and took full responsibility as head coach. This result marks a significant setback for Indonesian youth football, especially compared to the previous edition’s success.