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Hopes mount for Indonesian soccer team after World Cup progress
Indonesia's 2-0 win against the Philippines on Tuesday allows the team to advance to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualification.
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Indonesia's Thom Jan Haye (right) celebrates with a teammate after scoring a goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualification soccer match between Indonesia and the Philippines at Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta on June 11, 2024. (AFP/Bay Ismoyo)
T
he Indonesian soccer team has been inundated with celebratory messages and good wishes after its 2-0 win against the Philippines on Tuesday, a result that allows the team to advance to advance to the third round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Many fans have shared their hopes that the team could continue its winning performance in the next round, and eventually qualify for the prestigious tournament.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo hailed the team’s “incredible” win after watching the game in the stadium.
"With this feat, we are getting closer to our dream of playing at the World Cup," he said on his official social media account.
Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) chairman Erick Thohir also shared his glee and relief, adding that Indonesian fans can “sleep soundly” for now. “This was a hard battle, given the new [World Cup] format,” Erick said on Tuesday.
The tournament introduced a different rule last year for teams to qualify, as the upcoming World Cup is set to be the biggest ever with 48 teams participating, up from the usual 32 countries.
Erick, the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) minister, pushed the team to train harder and hoped that younger players would help add depth to the squad.
