Indonesian football boss wants to win SEA Games 33 gold medal after shock of losing 2026 World Cup ticket

The President of the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI), Mr. Erick Thohir, held an important press conference on October 24, announcing many issues related to the national team and the U.23 team that will participate in the 33rd SEA Games.

All support for Indonesia U.23 team to attend SEA Games 33, the national team will consider later

According to Mr. Erick Thohir, PSSI's priority at the moment is to provide the best support for the U.23 Indonesia team attending the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand next December, determined to successfully defend the gold medal in men's football.

The U.23 Indonesia team (red shirt) will summon the strongest possible squad to attend the 33rd SEA Games, including naturalized player and prodigy Marselino Ferdinan.

Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang

"The Federation will fully support the Indonesian U.23 team at this year's SEA Games, including mobilizing clubs whose players are still competing in ongoing tournaments," Mr. Erick Thohir emphasized.

Mr. Erick Thohir confirmed that U.23 Indonesia will call up a squad with the best possible players of the age to compete in the 33rd SEA Games, including naturalized players who play for the national team such as Ivar Jenner, Adrian Wibowo, and even the number 1 young talent of Indonesian football, star Marselino Ferdinan (currently 21 years old).

President of the Indonesian Football Federation frankly declared that he would not 'reunite' with Mr. Shin Tae-yong

"It's not impossible, we will try to call up the best players available, if they can participate during the December break, when some tournaments may not be postponed. We have invited Adrian Wibowo, Marselino Ferdinan, Mauro Zijlstra, Ivar Jenner and others. Because we want to achieve the maximum goal (the gold medal in men's football at the 33rd SEA Games). We will see how things go in the coming time," said Mr. Erick Thohir.

Also according to Mr. Erick Thohir, because of the priority given to the U.23 team, in the upcoming FIFA Days schedule in November, if the Indonesian team still does not have a new head coach, PSSI will schedule the U.23 team to compete as part of the preparation process for the 33rd SEA Games.

According to CNN Indonesia, it is understandable that Mr. Erick Thohir and PSSI focus all their attention on the U.23 team, because the national team is being rebuilt after the failure in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and has not yet had a new head coach. Besides, the Indonesian team also has no major goals for the rest of this year and next year, before participating in the 2027 Asian Cup.

The time of coach Kluivert and Shin Tae-yong is over

Also at the press conference on October 24, Mr. Erick Thohir affirmed that PSSI has never contacted veteran coach Louis van Gaal to invite him to lead the Indonesian team, ending all current rumors.

Coach Shin Tae-yong has no chance of returning to the Indonesian national team.

Photo: AFP

In addition, Mr. Erick Thohir also said that the federation has always fully supported coaches Shin Tae-yong and Kluivert in the past. But these coaches could not help the archipelago's football to attend the World Cup and their time has passed. Through that, Mr. Erick Thohir also closed the door to coach Shin Tae-yong's return to the Indonesian national team, who recently opened up about this offer.

Erick Thohir stressed that PSSI is not in a hurry and is still discussing potential candidates for the next head coach position of the Indonesian team. The criteria set is that this coach can meet the goals of the federation while maintaining a good relationship with both the players and the federation.

PSSI sets a big goal and project for the Indonesian team to qualify for the 2034 World Cup, while the 2030 World Cup must continue to enter the third qualifying round to compete for a ticket to the final round.

In addition, Mr. Erick Thohir also confirmed that after coach Kluivert and his colleagues in the national team's coaching staff were fired, other Dutch figures, such as Alexander Zwiers (technical director), Jordi Cruyff (advisor) and Simon Tahamata (head of the scouting department) are still working at PSSI.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/sep-lon-bong-da-indonesia-muon-doat-hcv-sea-games-33-sau-cu-soc-mat-ve-world-cup-2026-185251025080941595.htm