Focus On Young Player Development Towards The World Cup

PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir. (Photo: Doc. PSSI)

JAKARTA - The 2026 World Cup is the target of the All-Indonesian Football Association (PSSI). For this reason, the development of young players is the main focus.

PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir said he already had a short-term and long-term strategy. This strategy is expected to maximize Indonesia's potential to be able to penetrate the World Cup.

According to Erick, he must have the courage to pursue big dreams. He didn't care even though many blasphemed the dream.

"Indeed, we must have courage, if it is blasphemed, it is okay. The important thing is that we have a long-term and short-term strategy," said Erick.

Erick targets Indonesia to be able to pass the World Cup qualifying round in stages in every round. Starting from the first round which will be held in October 2023 until it ends in October 2025.

According to Erick, Indonesia still has a chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup because there are eight and a half slots for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) that can play in the 2026 World Cup.

Erick said Indonesia still has hope of breaking into the 2026 World Cup if the slot provided for Asian countries is more than eight slots.

For now, PSSI is prioritizing the formation of the U-17 national team which will compete in the U-17 FIFA World Cup. No kidding, PSSI screened the best young players from nine Indonesian cities.

PSSI also aligns selection from the Garuda Select program which can already be proven to beat European academy players. In addition, PSSI's other priority is the AFC competition or the U-23 Asian Cup.

Meanwhile, other sports events that will be participated by the Indonesian football national team such as the 2023 Asian Games and the U-23 AF are not prioritized by PSSI, but only for the development of players.

At the grand sporting event in Asia, namely the 2023 Asian Games in Guangzhou China, the Indonesian football national team will field U-20 players instead of U-24 as stipulated. Erick Thohir said this was for the development of young Indonesian players to prepare to become the U-21 national team, U-22, and so on.

He argues that Indonesian football management must be carried out with a strategy so that players are not forced to play continuously. PSSI is committed to developing Indonesian football players from a young age starting from the U-17, and even the U-14.