Indonesian President Urges Stronger Domestic Football League to Realize World Cup Dream
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has directed the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) to strengthen the country’s domestic football competition as part of efforts to build a more competitive national team capable of qualifying for a future FIFA World Cup.
The directive was conveyed during a meeting with Youth and Sports Minister and PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir, along with Indonesia national team head coach John Herdman, at the Garuda Yaksa Hermitage in Hambalang, Bogor, according to State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi on Friday.
Prasetyo, citing the Presidential Secretariat’s Bureau of Press, Media, and Information, said President Prabowo emphasized the need for a stronger and more competitive domestic league that can consistently develop high-quality players and provide a solid foundation for the national team.
“In his role as chairman of the Football Association of Indonesia, he is expected to improve our domestic competition and produce a strong national team capable of realizing Indonesians’ dream of qualifying for the World Cup,” Prasetyo said.
The meeting took place as the 2026 FIFA World Cup entered its second week, highlighting the government’s continued commitment to enhancing Indonesia’s football performance and international competitiveness.
Prasetyo noted that while the government had hoped Indonesia would secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the national team was unable to earn a place in the tournament.
“As we all know, the four-year World Cup tournament has been underway for more than a week. We genuinely hoped our national team would qualify this year, but for now, that has not happened,” he stated.
He stressed that Indonesia must begin preparations much earlier for future campaigns and focus on strengthening the national team’s internal development systems to improve its prospects in upcoming international competitions.
The government also views forthcoming international events, including the 2027 FIFA Series, as important opportunities to accelerate the country’s football development agenda and move closer to achieving its first-ever qualification for a FIFA World Cup.
President Prabowo’s call reflects Indonesia’s long-term strategy of investing in grassroots and domestic football structures to build a sustainable pipeline of talent and elevate the nation’s standing in global football.
