Prabowo strengthens support for Indonesia to host FIFA ASEAN
President Prabowo Subianto has affirmed that the government is continuing to strengthen support for the advancement of national football, including Indonesia’s efforts to become one of the hosts for the FIFA ASEAN tournament scheduled for September-October 2026.
Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir, after meeting Prabowo alongside Indonesian national team coach John Herdman at the Garuda Yaksa Training Centre in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java, on Friday afternoon, said FIFA had given a positive response to Indonesia’s candidacy to host the event.
“So, the President supports it. The President will prepare a letter so that we can be selected by FIFA to host. We are waiting for that, and I have also been asked to immediately communicate this to all ministries,” Erick told reporters.
Erick said the Head of State affirmed the government’s full support for all programmes of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI), especially in preparing the national team for the 2030 World Cup qualifiers, which will begin in September next year.
“Coach John was asked about future preparations and what is needed. The President said that all PSSI programmes for national team development, especially for the 2030 preparations whose qualifiers start next year in September, must be truly safeguarded and prepared,” said Erick, who also serves as PSSI Chairman.
During the meeting, President Prabowo also spoke directly with John Herdman about the team’s readiness for several upcoming international fixtures. Herdman expressed his appreciation for the support given by the Head of State and the government towards the development of national football.
He further explained that the Indonesian national team will face several important tournaments, including the AFF (ASEAN Football Federation) and FIFA ASEAN competitions. “FIFA ASEAN is a tournament we must win to show that we are the best in Southeast Asia, and that is an important step we need to take to bring the trophy home now,” he said.
Herdman stated that the entire coaching staff and players are currently focused on preparing to realise the major target of Indonesia qualifying for the 2030 World Cup. According to him, this target serves as the primary motivation that continuously drives all elements of the team to work harder.
“I think the President has a great passion for football. He, like every Indonesian, is the same. I always say we have 280 million reasons and he is one of them,” said Herdman. “He is one of those 280 million people who want us to qualify for 2030. Everything we do, every day when we wake up, we are obsessed with that qualification because it will change everything in our country forever,” he added.