RRI.CO.ID, Solo - Indonesian cerebral palsy (CP) football team has set a target to advance beyond the group stage at the 2026 IFCPF World Cup, making their debut appearance in the tournament.

Indonesia has been drawn into Group C alongside England, Japan, and Ireland. Indonesian CP football coach Yanuar Dhuma Ardhiyanto stated that the players are ready to compete, highlighting England as a particularly tough opponent to watch out for.

"We have mapped out our strategy against them," Yanuar Dhuma told RRI on Friday, July 24, 2026.

"In Group C, England is the toughest competitor as they are currently ranked among the top five in the world. They are our main concern. As for Japan, we have faced them before, while we are currently studying Ireland's gameplay more deeply," he added.

The 2026 IFCPF World Cup will take place in Atlanta, United States, starting on October 14, 2026. The 12 participating nations have a little over two months left to finalize their tournament preparations.

Yanuar shared that his squad began dedicated preparations this week with a training camp in Delingan, Karanganyar Regency, Central Java. A total of 27 players joined the camp at the Indonesian Paralympic Training Center (PPPI) to gear up for the competition.

"The official roster registered for the World Cup consists of 14 players, but we will bring more than 14 players to the U.S. as a precaution in case of injuries," he said.

Player selection was based on evaluations from Indonesia's performance at the 2025 IFCPF Asia Oceania Cup and the 2025 ASEAN Para Games. Dhuma brought in several new players under the FT2 classification to align with the team's tactical requirements.

"The new call-ups' classifications match our tactical needs. Most of these new additions fall into the FT2 category, as we already have sufficient options for FT3. They fit perfectly into what the team requires," he added.

Under match regulations, CP football players are classified into FT1, FT2, and FT3 categories based on their level of impairment. A starting lineup of seven players on the pitch must include one FT3 player, at least one FT1 player, and the remaining slots filled by FT2 players.

Thanks to a two-month online training program prior to the camp, the players arrived in relatively good physical shape. "Physically, the team arrived nearly prepared because we provided an online monitoring program over the past two months," Yanuar said.

"Now, we can focus on tactics and technical aspects, although we will continue to build their physical endurance since a few players still need improvement," he explained.

Indonesian CP football team captain Yahya Hernanda expressed optimism regarding their chances in Group C. Yahya has been studying footage of England and Ireland from previous tournaments.

"I am very confident we can finish at the top of the group. I've watched our opponents play; England and Ireland share a style similar to Australia, relying heavily on strength and physical stature," Yahya said.

"Technically, we are equal to them. As for Japan, we previously defeated them in the Asia-Oceania zone, so we are confident we can beat them again," he added.

Yahya noted that the training camp in Delingan fosters healthy competition while helping discover high-quality new talent.

"This selection process is great for maintaining healthy competition among players. Everyone is showing genuine enthusiasm. Some of the new players possess impressive quality and could very well be the missing puzzle pieces we needed," Yahya remarked.

The team plans to use the remaining preparation window to build squad chemistry and elevate their quality of play. "With the time we have left, we hope to build positive chemistry, improve the team's overall quality, and become a more solid unit," he concluded. (Diva Rifdah)

IFCPF World Cup 2026 Group Breakdown

1. Group A: United States, Netherlands, Canada, Scotland
2. Group B: Australia, Spain, Brazil, Chile
3. Group C: England, Japan, Republic of Ireland, Indonesia.