The World Cup dream belongs to Indonesia.

Under the guidance of coach Patrick Kluivert and a clever strategy of combining domestic and naturalized players, Indonesia is opening the door to making history.

Thanks to the inclusion of naturalized players, the Indonesian national team's strength has improved significantly.

From the position of a "sleeping powerhouse" in Southeast Asia, Indonesia has undergone a spectacular transformation. Having advanced through the third qualifying round and officially secured a place in the fourth qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia – an unprecedented historical milestone – the Indonesian team is no longer a fleeting phenomenon, but a truly capable force. With this foundation, the dream of participating in the World Cup for the first time in history is closer than ever.

In this bright picture, the role of head coach Patrick Kluivert – a Dutch football legend – is undeniable. Having only recently taken charge, Kluivert quickly established his tactical imprint and strategic vision. Under his leadership, Indonesia displayed a modern, disciplined, and deep style of play, ready to challenge on the continental stage.

The 1-0 victory against China on June 5th not only helped Indonesia rewrite history, but was also symbolic: they emerged from a decades-long shadow of inferiority. No longer just a team strong in the region, Indonesia now shows genuine competitiveness at the Asian level – something that was once considered unattainable.

Coach Bojan Hodak – who recently led Persib Bandung to Liga 1 victory – also expressed optimism about the future of Indonesian football. “Indonesia just needs to maintain stability,” the Croatian strategist stated. “Getting through each round is always difficult, especially with the current squad. But if we continue to maintain our current direction, Indonesia can absolutely participate in the World Cup within the next few years.”

The victory against China propelled the Indonesian national team into the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

This progress didn't come from luck. It's the result of a long rebuilding process – from youth training systems and domestic league reforms to a well-planned and strategic player naturalization policy.

In recent times, Indonesia has increasingly used naturalized players… These include names like Rafael Struick, Ivar Jenner, Jay Idzes, and Justin Hubner – who not only possess a solid technical and tactical foundation but also have a fiery fighting spirit and a burning desire to prove themselves in the red and white jersey. They are the ones creating a new image for the Indonesian national team – modern, confident, and highly organized.

Coach Patrick Kluivert, with his European vision, quickly made the most of this resource. He didn't hesitate to combine naturalized players with promising domestic talents like Marselino Ferdinand, Pratama Arhan, and Rizky Ridho – thereby creating a team that was both youthful and experienced at the highest level.

However, according to coach Bojan Hodak, Indonesia still needs to solve the "number 9" problem – a challenge not only for Indonesia but for the entire football world . "Good strikers are always a scarce and expensive resource," Hodak shared. "Indonesia cannot afford to buy a foreign striker for the national team. They can only use players with Indonesian nationality or blood. If there is no one suitable for that position, you can only hope for luck – that you possess a striker who is both Indonesian and capable of scoring goals at the international level."

This is an inherent weakness that the Indonesian national team needs to overcome if they want to dream bigger. Naturalized players have solved many problems in defense, midfield organization, and tactical thinking, but the ability to finish matches – which is what distinguishes strong teams from top teams – still requires a long-term solution.

Challenges still await the Indonesian team.

Besides the national team, Hodak also emphasized the increasingly important role of the Liga 1 league: “The fact that each club is allowed to use 6 to 8 foreign players is creating strong competitive pressure. Domestic players are forced to improve if they want to keep their positions. This helps raise the quality of the league, thereby indirectly raising the level of the national team.”

The facts are proving this. Thanks to the significantly improved league, more and more Indonesian players are capable of playing at a high speed and with the physical prowess required, no longer being at a disadvantage when facing top teams in the continent.

Reaching the fourth qualifying round is not just a historic achievement – ​​it's a strong affirmation that Indonesia has made significant progress, largely thanks to its naturalized players. Many challenges still lie ahead, but if they continue to maintain their passion, stability, and make good use of their available resources, the World Cup dream – something that generations of Indonesian players and fans once considered impossible – could very well become a reality in 2026.

“Opportunities don’t come twice,” Bojan Hodak concluded. “And right now, Indonesia stands closer than ever to the biggest opportunity in their football history.”

Source: https://znews.vn/giac-mo-world-cup-goi-ten-indonesia-post1558954.html