France Brings Football History to Jakarta

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – As the world celebrates the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Embassy of France and the Institut français d'Indonésie (IFI) invite the public to discover the remarkable history of the French national football team. This unique open-air photography exhibition is displayed on the exterior walls of the Embassy and IFI along Jalan M.H. Thamrin, Jakarta Pusat.

According to a press release from the French Embassy in Indonesia, this new open cultural gallery was officially inaugurated on Sunday, June 21, 2026. The exhibition, organized by IFI during Jakarta's Car Free Day and World Music Day, transforms one of the capital's busiest streets into a free public space for everyone.

More than just a celebration of football, the exhibition reflects France's belief that culture belongs in public spaces and should be accessible to all. By turning the Embassy and IFI's walls into an open-air gallery, France brings culture directly into everyday urban life. The display invites passersby, commuters, families, and football fans alike to encounter history, photography, and sports in the heart of Jakarta.

Entitled "Les Bleus, deux étoiles et une légende” or “Les Bleus, Two Stars and a Legend," the exhibition presents a selection of exceptional photographs from the archives of the French Football Federation (FFF). It retraces nearly a century of French football history, from France's participation in the very first FIFA World Cup in Uruguay in 1930 to the unforgettable finals of 1998, 2006, 2018, and 2022.

Visitors will rediscover some of the greatest moments in World Cup history: the voyage aboard the SS Conte Verde to the inaugural tournament, Just Fontaine's legendary record of 13 goals in a single World Cup, the dramatic semifinal in Seville in 1982, and the memorable victory over Brazil in 1986. It also features France's first world title in 1998 led by Zinédine Zidane, the triumph in Moscow in 2018, and the unforgettable 2022 final in Qatar, where Kylian Mbappé delivered one of the greatest individual performances ever witnessed in a FIFA World Cup final. Additionally, the exhibition pays tribute to Didier Deschamps, the legend associated with the team's two stars as Captain in 1998 and as the coach of "Les Bleus" in 2018.

Accessible free of charge throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026, "Les Bleus, Two Stars and a Legend" embodies the vision of the Embassy of France and IFI to keep culture open, accessible, and shared. As football captures the attention of millions around the world, the exhibition invites Jakarta residents and visitors to experience how sport, history, and culture can come together in a public space while celebrating the friendship and cooperation between France and Indonesia.

This initiative highlights the growing sporting partnership between France and Indonesia. Earlier this year, the French Football Federation (FFF), together with the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) and the Embassy of France-IFI, organized the Next Goal program.

This initiative promoted the development of women's football through coaching clinics, technical workshops, and exchanges between French and Indonesian football professionals. By encouraging greater participation of girls and women in football, the program demonstrated how sport can contribute to empowerment, inclusion, and equal opportunities, values shared by both France and Indonesia.