Herdman Sets World Cup 2030 Goal, Urges Indonesia to Take It Step by Step

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian national football coach John Herdman has laid out an ambitious long-term target: guiding the Garuda squad to the 2030 FIFA World Cup. But he cautioned that the journey must be taken step by step, with each match serving as part of a broader process.

“International football is about progression, step by step. The goal here is to qualify for the 2030 World Cup. Every step I take in the next three years is toward that,” Herdman said at a press conference ahead of Indonesia’s FIFA Series 2026 clash against St Kitts and Nevis at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, March 26, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Herdman stressed that results in the short term, while important, are not the sole measure of success. “If we win now, fantastic; it builds confidence and mentality. If we don’t, we’ll take critical lessons: learning about our players, our systems, and how we adapt within the AFC. There will be many victories along this journey,” he explained.

Indonesia will face St Kitts and Nevis on Friday night, March 27, 2026. A win could set up a historic final against Bulgaria on Monday, March 30, 2026, provided Bulgaria overcomes the Solomon Islands in their fixture earlier on Friday.

"But I always challenge these guys to make history. We could become the first Indonesian men’s team to beat a European side on home soil,” Herdman said, noting that he wants to challenge his players to seize the moment

Addressing the absence of Dean James from the squad, Herdman declined to go into detail, leaving the explanation to the player himself. “Dean is a fantastic player and remains an important part of this team. For this camp, he has his own reasons,” he said.

The coach emphasized that his focus remains firmly on the players available and their readiness for the upcoming matches. “We have a squad that is prepared, all players are in good condition, and we are focused on performing at our best,” Herdman concluded. ***