PADANG – The 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, is seen as more than just a sporting spectacle.

For the Governor of West Sumatra, Mahyeldi Ansharullah, this global event offers a valuable opportunity for young people who aspire to become professional footballers to learn from the best.

Mahyeldi stated that the World Cup broadcast on TVRI provides Indonesian children with a wider opportunity to watch the matches of the world’s top teams directly.

He conveyed this during an interview after leading the Pancasila Day ceremony at the West Sumatra Governor’s Office courtyard on Monday (1 June 2026).

“Alhamdulillah, the World Cup will be broadcast through TVRI. I believe this is a very positive step, allowing the public, especially children who love football, to enjoy the matches,” said Mahyeldi.

According to him, the World Cup can serve as a source of inspiration for young people who dream of building a career in football.

He shared that during his recent Ramadan Safari, he met many children across West Sumatra who expressed their ambition to become football players.

“Many of the children I met said they wanted to be footballers. It’s a noble and remarkable dream. Therefore, the World Cup presents an opportunity for them to learn from the world’s best players,” he added.

Mahyeldi believes that the matches showcased during the World Cup can serve as a reflection point for the development of national football.

Not only young players, but coaches and football enthusiasts can also gain insights from the strategies, discipline, training methods, and competitive spirit demonstrated by the participating nations.

“We can evaluate how our football has progressed. The positive elements seen in the World Cup can be adopted and applied to advance Indonesian football,” Mahyeldi explained.

He further emphasized that football progress is not solely determined by individual player skills but also by continuous training, discipline, and strong teamwork.

For that reason, Mahyeldi hopes that the 2026 World Cup can be utilized as a shared learning moment rather than merely a source of entertainment.

“This should be a learning experience for coaches, football fans, and our young generation. Hopefully, this event will ignite a new spirit to elevate Indonesian football,” he concluded.

Mahyeldi also expressed his hope that more children in West Sumatra will be inspired to develop their talents in sports, particularly football, so that one day they can compete at national and international levels.