Amid his busy schedule leading the city of Samarinda, Mayor Andi Harun has been keeping up with the progress of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026.

When asked which team he considered the strongest contender for the world title, Mayor Andi Harun shared that he does not evaluate teams solely based on their historical achievements or performances in previous tournaments.

He explained that each World Cup edition has its own unique characteristics that require analysis based on current conditions.

“As someone who is also involved in sports, I believe that each World Cup must be assessed dynamically rather than in a static way. There are many factors that need to be taken into account,” he said on Saturday (13 June 2026).

According to Andi Harun, several aspects influence a team’s performance in a major tournament, ranging from the host nation’s environment to the competitiveness of domestic leagues where players develop their skills.

He mentioned that he has been following major European leagues such as the Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga, and the Premier League to assess the readiness of players competing in the World Cup.

However, what most captured Andi Harun’s attention were the new match regulations introduced by FIFA for this year’s tournament.

He believes these changes favour teams that can play at a high tempo and maintain superior physical conditioning.

“My hypothesis is that the teams reaching the final will be the ones that adapt most quickly to the new rules of the game. A lot has changed in this World Cup,” he stated.

One example he highlighted was the stricter enforcement of time-related rules in various match situations, including throw-ins.

He noted that this adjustment has increased the overall intensity of the competition compared to previous tournaments.

“This means that teams with faster play, higher tempo, and stronger stamina will have a greater advantage,” he explained.

Based on his analysis, Andi Harun predicted that the two teams with the best chance of reaching the final are the Germany national football team and the England national football team.

“I expect Germany and England to make it to the final. With FIFA’s new match regulations, it’s no longer just about technical skill, but also about physical power and endurance to match the rhythm of the game,” he said.

Nevertheless, Mayor Andi Harun has not yet made a definitive prediction about which nation will claim the world title.

“As for who will emerge as champion, let’s wait and see between these two teams,” he added with a smile.

His prediction adds to the growing list of Samarinda figures expressing their support for various national teams competing in the 2026 World Cup.

Earlier, the Samarinda Police Chief also named Germany as one of the strongest candidates to win this year’s championship.

(TribunKaltim.co/Gregorius and M. Farikhin)