Dutch coach Alex Pastoor has expressed his astonishment following his dismissal by the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) after the Indonesia National Team failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Pastoor revealed he had been operating under the assumption that PSSI was committed to a long-term project.
Pastoor, along with the entire coaching staff led by Patrick Kluivert, was officially relieved of his duties by PSSI in the wake of the team’s unsuccessful World Cup qualification campaign. This decision came after Indonesia suffered defeats in two critical Round 4 World Cup Qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Iraq, ultimately leading them to finish at the bottom of their group.
Reflecting on the unexpected turn of events, Alex Pastoor elaborated that his understanding of the collaboration with PSSI was deeply rooted in the concept of an enduring initiative, rather than a mere short-term objective focused solely on securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
“You, who have been involved in the world of football for a long time, are surprised by this,” Pastoor stated in an interview with Voetbal International. “But, I thought they were working on a project that would last longer than just trying to qualify for the World Cup.” His remarks highlight a significant disconnect between his expectations and the federation’s apparent strategy.
Pastoor further commented on the challenging environment: “If the sentiment turns very negative, you also have to wonder what kind of atmosphere you’re going to face. We didn’t know that, but they consulted a few days after returning from Jeddah and decided that this is where it all ends.” This indicates the final decision to part ways was made shortly after the team’s return from their away fixture.
Meanwhile, the PSSI has yet to name a new head coach to succeed Patrick Kluivert. Reports suggest that the federation is expected to convene a meeting in the near future to deliberate and decide on the appointment of a new coaching leader for the national squad.
Summary
Dutch coach Alex Pastoor expressed astonishment following his dismissal by the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI), along with Patrick Kluivert’s entire coaching staff. Their removal came after the Indonesia National Team failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Pastoor stated he was surprised, having understood PSSI was working on a long-term project rather than solely focusing on immediate World Cup qualification.
Indonesia’s qualification campaign ended after defeats to Saudi Arabia and Iraq in critical Round 4 matches, leaving them at the bottom of their group. Pastoor noted the decision was made shortly after the team’s return from an away fixture amid negative sentiment. PSSI has yet to name a new head coach but plans to meet soon to deliberate on a successor for the national squad.