Flooring Guide by Cinvex – Following the Indonesia U-17 National Team’s failure to qualify for the 2026 U-17 World Cup, head coach Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto delivered a resolute message to his young squad. Emphasizing that their journey is far from over, Kurniawan urged players like Mathew Baker and his teammates not to surrender, reminding them of the extensive careers that lie ahead.
This stern message came after the Indonesia U-17 National Team suffered a decisive 1-3 defeat against Japan in their final Group B fixture of the 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup. The loss proved critical, as it prevented the Young Garuda from advancing to the quarter-finals and, consequently, from securing a coveted spot in the 2026 U-17 World Cup.
Ultimately, the Indonesia U-17 National Team finished at the bottom of Group B, accumulating just three points. Their position was further complicated by head-to-head losses to both China and Qatar. In contrast, Japan dominated the group to claim first place, progressing to the quarter-finals alongside China, who secured the runner-up spot.
Despite this disappointing outcome, Kurniawan was quick to reassure his players that this setback is by no means the end of their footballing aspirations. He urged the Indonesia U-17 National Team members to maintain their composure, hold their heads high, and relentlessly focus on refining their skills to achieve greater heights.
“I advised them that this is not the end of everything,” Kurniawan stated in a press release on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. “Their careers are still long. Keep training, keep striving to become true professional players.”
The coach expressed his strong hope that his proteges will continue to demonstrate positive progress in their development. He envisions a future where these young talents will break into subsequent levels of the Indonesian National Team, eventually earning their places in the senior squad. “We hope they can appear in the national team at the next levels, and ultimately play at the senior national team level,” he added, outlining his long-term vision.
Taking full accountability for the team’s performance, the 49-year-old coach also extended a sincere apology to the Indonesian public for the Indonesia U-17 National Team’s failure. Kurniawan firmly asserted that this outcome rests squarely on his shoulders as the head coach.
“On behalf of myself and also as head coach, as the person responsible for this team, I apologize for this failure,” Kurniawan conveyed. “However, I remain grateful to all the staff supporting the team and I thank the players for their unwavering hard work.”
The Indonesia U-17 National Team Fails to Reach the 2026 U-17 World Cup! Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto Apologizes and Takes Full Responsibility.
He concluded by reaffirming his commitment: “As head coach, I will, of course, take full responsibility for the failure to replicate the success achieved by the team last year.”
Indeed, this recent failure marks a significant setback for the national youth program. It stands in stark contrast to the previous edition, where coach Nova Arianto successfully guided the Indonesia U-17 National Team through the group stages and secured their qualification for the 2025 U-17 World Cup.
Summary
The Indonesia U-17 National Team failed to qualify for the 2026 U-17 World Cup after a 1-3 defeat against Japan in the 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup, finishing at the bottom of Group B. Head coach Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto delivered a resolute message to his young squad, emphasizing that their journey is far from over and urging them to maintain composure. He encouraged them to keep training, strive to become professional players, and aim for subsequent levels of the Indonesian National Team.
Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto took full accountability for the team’s performance, apologizing to the Indonesian public for the failure to qualify. He reaffirmed his commitment as head coach despite this outcome. This failure marks a significant setback for the national youth program, contrasting with the previous edition where the U-17 team successfully qualified for the 2025 U-17 World Cup.