FIFA ASEAN Cup Debut Boosts Indonesia’s Football Role, Infantino Praises Jakarta

Infantino met with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta on Monday, October 5, 2026. He was accompanied by Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir, who described the meeting as a continuation of the close relationship between the two leaders.

“This was a meeting between the President of FIFA and the President of the Republic of Indonesia. President Gianni has visited Indonesia nearly four times, including during the FIFA U-17 World Cup and now the FIFA ASEAN Cup,” Minister Erick told reporters before the meeting, as quoted by Antara.

According to Minister Erick, President Prabowo and Infantino have previously met on several occasions, including in New York, United States, and Paris, France, making the Jakarta meeting a continuation of ongoing discussions about football development and cooperation.

Ahead of his audience with President Prabowo, Infantino expressed appreciation for the progress of football across Southeast Asia and the organization of the FIFA ASEAN Cup in Indonesia.

“So far, the tournament has been a real success and has involved the entire ASEAN region. Indonesia has been an outstanding host for the best teams in Southeast Asia,” Infantino said.

The FIFA president noted that football continues to enjoy strong support throughout the region, citing growing match quality, competitive atmospheres, and enthusiastic crowds at stadiums.

“Football is truly alive in this region. There is tremendous passion for the game, and we can see that the level of football is very good. Fans are coming to the stadiums,” he added.

Infantino also expressed his satisfaction at returning to Indonesia and being involved once again in a FIFA event hosted by the country. “I am very happy to be back in Indonesia. I am also very pleased to once again organize a FIFA event here. This is not the first one, but it is a very important one,” he shared.

The FIFA ASEAN Cup, he added, represents an important milestone for football in the region and could pave the way for future editions of the tournament.

“This is the first FIFA ASEAN Cup. Hopefully, it will be the first of many more to come. And I am also happy to meet again with a president who loves football and loves his country,” Infantino concluded. ***