BekisarMedia.id — Two prominent names often in the spotlight among Indonesian football fans, Elkan Baggott and Ragnar Oratmangoen, have been officially ruled out of the Indonesian national team squad for the crucial matches against China and Japan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
The confirmation was delivered directly by Arya Sinulingga, a member of the PSSI Executive Committee (Exco), during an official media statement.
Elkan Baggott Chooses to Focus on Club Career
Elkan Baggott’s name was notably missing from the list of players called up by newly appointed Indonesia head coach Patrick Kluivert for the national training camp in Bali, set to begin on May 25, 2025. Baggott last played for the Garuda squad in the match against the Philippines on November 21, 2023, under former coach Shin Tae-yong.
According to Arya Sinulingga, Baggott’s absence is due to his decision to focus on his club commitments.
“We’ve asked Elkan Baggott for quite some time, and he told us that he wants to focus on his club career. We respect his decision.” said Arya in an official statement on Monday, May 19, 2025.
Elkan Baggott recently completed his loan spell with Blackpool FC, a club in England’s League One, and has returned to his parent club, Ipswich Town.
Interestingly, Baggott was reportedly spotted in Bali, which is also the designated location for the national team’s training camp. However, there has been no sign that he will join the squad.
Ragnar Oratmangoen Sidelined Due to Illness
Meanwhile, Ragnar Oratmangoen has also been ruled out due to health reasons. Arya Sinulingga explained that the Dutch-born player of Indonesian descent is currently recovering from an illness.
“Ragnar informed us that he’s currently sick and needs time to recover. A player’s health is the top priority, and we fully support his recovery process.” said Arya Sinulingga.
There has been no official information regarding the illness Oratmangoen is dealing with. The last match he played was with Dender EH in the Belgian league, during a 1–2 loss to KV Mechelen on March 16, 2025.
Indonesia’s World Cup Qualifying Fixtures
The Indonesian national team is scheduled to play two crucial fixtures in June 2025. The Garuda squad will host China at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK) on June 5, before traveling to face Japan on June 10.
These two matches will be vital in determining Indonesia’s chances of advancing to the next round of the World Cup qualifiers. They also mark a significant debut period for head coach Patrick Kluivert, who is expected to bring a fresh approach to the team. (skb)
