Without an official head coach, Indonesia suffered a shocking 0-7 defeat to China

U17 Indonesia severely disappointed by being completely defeated 0-7 by U17 China on home ground, with the media labeling it a disastrous display.

The 0-7 loss to U17 China on home soil dealt a heavy blow to the preparation process of U17 Indonesia for important tournaments in 2026. This defeat not only shocked with the scoreline but also exposed numerous worrying issues in the team's playing style and competitiveness.

The match held on the evening of February 8 at Indomilk Arena (Tangerang) was seen as a crucial test for U17 Indonesia ahead of the 2026 AFC U17 Championship. However, instead of sending positive signals, the friendly turned into a nightmare as the home team was completely outplayed and unable to withstand the pressure from the Chinese side.

Throughout the 90 minutes, U17 China dominated possession almost entirely, repeatedly exploiting mistakes in Indonesia’s defense. The young home players appeared inexperienced in organizing their formation, weak in challenges, and lacked solutions to escape the pressing. As a result, the U17 Indonesia goal was repeatedly breached in a one-sided match.

The Indonesian media did not hide their disappointment either. Bola newspaper frankly commented: "The U17 Indonesia team suffered a humiliating defeat in their international trial matches, being overwhelmed by the U17 national team of China". This assessment accurately reflects the situation and the level gap displayed on the field.

After the game, coach Nova Arianto admitted the team is still far from their set goals. He shared: "In terms of expectations, we are clearly far from what we hoped for. From the preparations for the matches to the actual performance, the reality was completely different from our hopes". Nevertheless, the coach believes this is a necessary lesson for the young players to grow.

The heavy loss to U17 China is part of the preparation plan for the ASEAN U16 2026 in March and the 2026 AFC U17 Championship in Saudi Arabia. Moving forward, U17 Indonesia will be led by Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, while Nova Arianto returns to work with the U20 team. However, the 0-7 defeat certainly raises serious questions about the ambitions of Indonesian youth football on the continental stage.