Goalkeeper Nadeo Argawinata Called Up to Strengthen the National Team

KBRN, Jakarta: The Indonesian national football team has called up goalkeeper Nadeo Argawinata for the fourth round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian zone qualifiers, scheduled for October 9 and 12, 2025. His inclusion is expected to bolster the squad’s goalkeeping depth amid injury concerns.

National Team Chairman Sumardji confirmed that Nadeo was summoned following a minor injury sustained by one of the team’s main goalkeepers, Emil Audero. 

“Emil Audero suffered a minor injury during warm-ups before his club match, and our team is still monitoring his condition,” Sumardji said in Jakarta on Thursday, October 2, as quoted by antaranews.com.

Audero’s injury occurred ahead of Cremonese’s match against Como in the Italian League at the end of September. Despite the setback, both Audero and Maarten Paes, who recently recovered from a hamstring injury, are expected to join the national squad.

“Maarten Paes has returned to full training and is fit to play. He will depart with Emil on October 5 from their respective clubs and countries,” Sumardji added.

Sumardji also provided updates on other players previously reported to be injured. Sandy Walsh is recovering from a minor muscle strain and is reportedly in good condition, while Beckham Putra has just arrived in Jeddah to begin match preparations.

Indonesia will face Saudi Arabia in the first Group B qualifier on October 9, followed by a crucial match against Iraq on October 12. Both fixtures are considered decisive for Indonesia’s chances of advancing to the final round.

Only the group winner will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The second-place team will enter the intercontinental playoffs, while the third-place team will be eliminated, placing added pressure on the Garuda squad to perform in this phase. ***