Indonesia's FIFA Ranking Rises, But Expert Says Much Work Remains

Indonesia's FIFA ranking has improved significantly under PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir, but according to football expert Akmal Marhali, the journey to break into the world's top 100 still faces many challenges ahead. Since Erick Thohir officially took charge of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) in April 2026, the national team's ranking has made an impressive leap from 149th to 118th on the FIFA rankings. This is considered one of the most notable achievements of Indonesian football in over three years. However, Akmal Marhali, a well-known football analyst in Indonesia, has made cautious statements about this achievement. He emphasized that the current ranking is only "important capital" and not the final destination. "We need to maintain this momentum through consistent performances and a coherent development strategy," Marhali said on September 2, 2026. This ranking improvement is the result of a transition through three different head coaches. Under Shin Tae-yong, Indonesia climbed from 149th to 127th in about 21 months (from April 2026 to January 2026), a remarkable step forward thanks to organized pressing and a youth integration strategy. Next, Patrick Kluivert with his Dutch-school possession philosophy helped the team improve another 5 places to 122nd in 9 months (from January to October 2026). Most recently, John Herdman, who took over in January 2026, has helped Indonesia advance 4 more places to the current 118th position. However, looking at the detailed numbers, it can be seen that the pace of ranking improvement is slowing down through each phase. Shin Tae-yong achieved an average of about 1.05 places per month, while Kluivert only achieved 0.56 places and Herdman currently only achieves 0.5 places per month. This reflects a mathematical reality of the FIFA ranking system: as a team climbs higher, the points available from beating weaker opponents diminish, and to progress further, Indonesia needs to defeat stronger teams. Marhali also pointed out that FIFA rankings are determined by match results, which directly affects point accumulation. He called on PSSI to build a higher-quality match calendar and a consistent development strategy to maintain the momentum. The next big opportunity for Indonesia is the ASEAN Cup 2026, scheduled from late September to early October in Jakarta and Bandung. Indonesia is in Group A with Malaysia, Singapore, and Bangladesh. Notably, India has withdrawn from this group, which could affect the point value of matches without a higher-ranked opponent. With home advantage and the support of millions of passionate fans, Indonesia is expected to advance deep into the knockout stage. A semifinal or final appearance would bring valuable points, especially if they can beat Malaysia - their direct regional rival. However, analysts also warn of potential challenges. Changing three coaches in three years could create instability in tactical identity. Each strategist brings a different philosophy - from Shin Tae-yong's organized pressing, Kluivert's possession play, to Herdman's data-driven approach - which could undermine consistency in the team's playing style. Furthermore, the strategy of naturalizing players of Indonesian descent from European leagues raises questions about long-term sustainability. The cost of recruiting these players is typically significantly higher than domestic players, and as this generation of naturalized players ages, Indonesia may face a generational gap. The goal of breaking into the world's top 100 is still 18 places away. With the current pace of improvement, Indonesia may need another 3 to 5 years to achieve this target, unless there is a major breakthrough at important tournaments. This is a 2-4 year "window of opportunity" that Indonesia needs to maximize before the current generation of naturalized players passes their peak. Indonesian football is standing at the threshold of a new era. The 118th ranking is clear evidence of progress, but as Akmal Marhali emphasized, there is still much homework to be done. The question is whether Indonesia can maintain this momentum and turn potential into reality at the upcoming ASEAN Cup 2026.