Head coach of the Indonesia national football team, John Herdman, addressed the media at Madya Stadium, Senayan, Jakarta, on Saturday (30 May 2026).

John Herdman has explained why the Garuda squad must continue to be strengthened by naturalised diaspora players.

Ahead of the FIFA Matchday in June 2025, Herdman spoke about Indonesia’s long-term preparations for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

The English coach has set an ambitious goal to make Indonesia a leading force in these tournaments, believing that the Garuda squad possesses several advantages.

He pointed out that Indonesia’s unique capabilities, if developed properly, could become a powerful weapon to achieve success at the AFC Asian Cup.

The 2027 AFC Asian Cup will take place from 7 January to 5 February next year, with Indonesia drawn in Group F alongside Japan, Qatar, and Thailand.

“These are not easy opponents,” Herdman admitted, “but I believe the quality of Indonesian players can deliver surprises in the competition.”

“Our main objective is to be the best in the AFC (2027 Asian Cup) in areas that can become Indonesia’s strengths,” Herdman said.

“We have the unique ability to be the best tactically in the AFC. Preparing for the AFC is the key target,” he added.

Beyond that, Herdman carries a major ambition — to lead Indonesia onto the world stage at the 2030 FIFA World Cup, through a structured and sustainable system.

He outlined three primary objectives he aims to achieve, starting with building a high-performance system for World Cup qualification.

“We have the 2030 World Cup as our big picture, and as I’ve said to anyone willing to listen,” Herdman explained.

“We have three main goals. The first is to create a high-performance system that will support World Cup qualification,” he stated.

This system, according to Herdman, must be supported by strong human resources, as well as the right tools, knowledge, and experience.

He then moved on to the second goal, which directly involves player recruitment — Indonesia needs more top-level players.

“We must continuously improve the skills of every department within our team structure, equipping them with the right tools, knowledge, and experience,” he said.

“The second goal is to recruit more level-one and level-two players,” Herdman continued.

He further explained that players are categorised based on the level of competition they participate in, which plays a crucial role in team development.

At this point, Herdman emphasised that Indonesia still requires diaspora naturalised players to strengthen the national team.

“Level one includes those who play in the top five leagues in the world, while level two includes those who play outside of those leagues,” he elaborated.

“This can be achieved either by accelerating the development of our domestic players in Indonesia and using the national team as a stepping stone to enter top leagues,” he continued.

“Or by recruiting diaspora players who can represent our country,” John Herdman concluded.