Timnas Futsal Indonesia finished at the bottom of Group A at the Copa das Nações de Futsal 2026 after a 0-2 defeat against Cape Verde at the Max Rosenmann Arena in São José dos Pinhais, Brazil. Goals from Wilson Cabral and Fred Alexandre sealed the result, eliminating head coach Hector Souto’s squad from semifinal contention.

Why Did Timnas Futsal Indonesia Miss the Semifinals in Brazil?

The Indonesian national futsal team saw its campaign in the Vi Copa das Nações de Futsal 2026 come to a close after finishing as the last-place team in Group A. Following an earlier 0-3 defeat to tournament host Brazil, the squad needed a win against Cape Verde to turn their fortunes around. Instead, quick strikes in the first half from Cape Verde dismantled the Garuda defense. Wilson Cabral broke the deadlock in the sixth minute by converting a pass from Isaias past goalkeeper Muhammad Nizar. Just one minute later, Fred Alexandre doubled the lead with a low shot that eluded Nizar, leaving Indonesia with a two-goal deficit at halftime. The match itself took place on Friday, October 16, 2026, with the starting lineup featuring Muhammad Nizar in goal alongside Rizky Xavier, team captain Mochammad Iqbal, Syauqi Saud, and Andreas Dwi Persada, while Ahmad Habiebie, Ardiansyah Nur, Rio Pangestu, Dewa Rizki, Andarias Kareth, Romi Humandiri, Andreas Dwi Persada, Yogi Saputra, Ronal Drion R, Israr Megantara, and Samuel Eko waited on the bench. Cape Verde utilized Ricardo Antonio as goalkeeper alongside Milton Dias, Helder Semedo, team captain Jair Pereira, Wilson Cabral, Ocativo Junior, Carlos Fonseca, Isaias Furtado, and Januario Melo.

How Did Hector Souto and the Team Respond to the Deficit?

Faced with a deficit, head coach Hector Souto menerapkan skema power play saat laga menyisakan delapan menit. Indonesia berupaya membalas melalui usaha Rio Pangestu, tetapi kiper Ricardo Antonio dengan cermat mengamankan gawangnya. With eight minutes remaining in regulation, Souto implemented a power-play scheme to manufacture clean looks. Samuel Eko and Syauqi Saud both fired dangerous shots during the closing minutes, but Antonio turned away each effort to preserve the clean sheet. The score remained unchanged until the final whistle.

Who Advanced From Group A and What Lies Ahead?

With the 2-0 victory, Cape Verde secured the runner-up spot in Group A and advanced to the tournament semifinals. Cape Verde is scheduled to face Asian representative Afghanistan in the next round. Meanwhile, the tournament hosted six nations in São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, from October 12 to October 18, 2026. InfoPublik reported that the national team finished the competition in sixth place without recording a point, prompting the Federasi Futsal Indonesia (FFI) to announce a comprehensive evaluation of team performance, training programs, and the organization’s governance regarding state budget allocations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Indonesia’s Copa das Nações Campaign

What was the final group standing for Indonesia?

Timnas Futsal Indonesia finished as the juru kunci, or bottom team, in Group A following losses to both Brazil and Cape Verde.

Who scored the goals for Cape Verde?

Wilson Cabral opened the scoring in the sixth minute, and Fred Alexandre added the second goal in the seventh minute.

How much state funding did the FFI receive for the 2026 program?

According to InfoPublik, the FFI received approximately Rp20 billion in state budget (APBN) support for its futsal programs in 2026, which the federation noted will undergo administrative and performance evaluations.

Which teams advanced to the semifinals from Group A?

Brazil finished at the top of the group and Cape Verde secured second place to advance alongside them, with Cape Verde meeting Afghanistan in the next stage.

What Did FFI Leadership Say Regarding State Support and Future Targets?

Reflecting on the campaign and financial administration, FFI General Budi Setiawan expressed appreciation to the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora) for their backing of national futsal development, team training, and program funding. Budi also offered thanks to PSSI General Chairman and Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir alongside PSSI General Yunus Nusi, citing their assistance with program development and budget administration guidance. FFI noted that the state funding requires strict accountability regarding program planning, budget alignment, fund realization, and target achievements as the association works toward improving international competitiveness and pursuing a top-10 global ranking.