Saturday, March 29, 2025
JAKARTA, INDONESIA — Three years to the day after the Kanjuruhan stadium disaster claimed 135 lives, Indonesian football is showcasing an impressive revival, highlighted by the national team’s pursuit of a historic World Cup berth. This turnaround comes despite the sport’s long history of turmoil and recent setbacks.
The tragedy of October 1, 2022, marked the culmination of decades of internal issues, including corruption scandals and a temporary FIFA ban. The negative cycle appeared to continue in March 2023 when the nation was stripped of hosting the Under-20 World Cup. However, the efforts of new federation president Erick Thohir to manage the crisis ultimately led FIFA to award Indonesia the successful Under-17 World Cup—a crucial step toward national optimism.
The Garuda Team is now within two matches of qualifying for the expanded World Cup, an unprecedented opportunity for the world’s fourth most populous country. In a final three-team playoff, Indonesia must face Saudi Arabia and Iraq on October 8 and 14, with the winner securing the ticket to North America.
This progress is largely attributed to an aggressive naturalization strategy, incorporating numerous European-born players of Indonesian heritage. Patrick Kluivert, appointed in January, now manages a predominantly Dutch-speaking squad, a move prioritizing results over traditional team composition. This shift has already yielded a better qualification points tally than regional rivals managed in past attempts.
Despite the national team’s success, fundamental issues persist. The domestic BRI Super League is still hampered by safety concerns, which maintain a ban on away fans three years after the disaster. Reports of player salary delays also indicate underlying instability. While a World Cup appearance won’t solve every problem, it would serve as the most powerful testament yet to the progress made since that catastrophic day.
