Japanese National Team Legend Prays For Indonesia To Qualify For The 2026 World Cup

JAKARTA - The Japanese National Team Legend, Keisuke Honda, prays for the Indonesian national team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup which was held for the first time in three countries, namely the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

"I hope you (Indonesia) qualify for the World Cup next year," said Honda at the ASIOP Stadium, Central Jakarta, Sunday, June 8, 2025, as reported by Antara.

The Indonesian national team has confirmed that they will qualify for the Fourth Round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers after beating China 1-0 at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK), Jakarta, Thursday, June 5, 2025.

The Garuda squad is now in fourth place in Group C standings with 12 points. The acquisition was unable to be pursued by two teams under him, Bahrain and China, who collected six points in fifth and sixth positions.

Honda, who retired in November 2024, also said she was surprised by the development of Indonesian football, which is now ranked 123 in the world, up about 30 places in the last two years.

This ranking increase could not be separated from Jay Idzes and his friends' slick performances during the Second and Third Rounds of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, which were able to beat the teams with FIFA rankings above them, such as Vietnam (twice), Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and most recently China.

"I just saw the latest results of the Indonesian national team. It surprised me. So, I think a lot of good players are playing."

"I think young players are increasing. I heard you qualify for the next round. So, you guys still have a chance to play in the World Cup," said the former AC Milan player.

During his career, Honda scored 105 goals and 81 assists from 503 appearances for 12 clubs, including AC Milan for three years. Meanwhile, together with Japan, the man born in Settsu, Osaka, had 98 appearances with 37 goals and 23 assists, as well as three appearances at the World Cup (2010, 2014, and 2018).