Thohir’s World Cup dream for Indonesia
JAKARTA: Erick Thohir, a prominent Indonesian businessman and politician, once owned Italian giants Inter Milan and maintains a stake in English club Oxford United. However, his ultimate football aspiration lies much closer to home—guiding Indonesia back to the FIFA World Cup.
Football holds a special place in the hearts of millions across Indonesia, yet the nation’s only appearance on the global stage came in 1938, when they competed as the Dutch East Indies. Since gaining independence in 1945, the country has struggled to return to the prestigious tournament.
As the chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) since 2023, Thohir is determined to change this narrative. With FIFA expanding Asia’s quota to nine spots for the 2026 World Cup, he sees an opportunity for Indonesia to step up.
“Indonesia should be in the top nine in Asia, with our population and our passion for football from all of the people of Indonesia. But of course it takes time,” Thohir shared in a recent interview with Reuters.
Thohir’s vision is ambitious but rooted in optimism. Leveraging the nation’s passion for the sport and his own experience in football administration, he hopes to inspire a football renaissance that could finally put Indonesia back on the global map.(Reuters)
