Hamza Choudhury Praises Indonesia National Team: The Foundation for a 2030 World Cup Berth Is Already in Sight
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- Gelandang Bangladesh, Hamza Choudhury, menilai Timnas Indonesia punya kualitas dan dukungan suporter yang cukup untuk menembus Piala Dunia 2030.
- Pujian itu muncul saat Bangladesh bersiap menghadapi Indonesia di Grup A FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, menandakan pengakuan regional terhadap kemajuan sepak bola nasional.
- Jika konsisten, Indonesia berpeluang mengakhiri penantian panjang dan mencatat sejarah baru di kancah global.
Bangladesh national team midfielder Hamza Choudhury expressed confidence that Indonesia has a strong foundation to reach the 2030 World Cup finals. Choudhury made the remarks on the sidelines of Bangladesh's training at Lapangan A Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday (22/9/2026), ahead of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 Group A match.
Choudhury, who previously played for Leicester City, said the squad under John Herdman has a competitive FIFA ranking, squad depth, and tremendous supporter backing. "I would be very surprised if they are not among the teams that qualify for the 2030 World Cup," he said. That edition of the World Cup will be held in Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.
The praise is not mere flattery. In recent years, Indonesia has indeed shown significant progress in Asian football, both through player naturalization and youth development. The presence of a world-class coach like Herdman is also a signal that the federation is serious about targeting the global stage.
For Indonesia, the spotlight from opposing players like Choudhury reflects how the Merah-Putih's reputation in the ASEAN region is increasingly taken into account. It also brings its own pressure: public expectations and international observers now demand consistent performances, not just promises of potential.
"They have a lot of quality in the team and are backed by a very good head coach. As a footballing nation, I think they are very good," Choudhury said.
The Indonesia vs Bangladesh meeting at the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 will be a tactical test for Herdman. Beyond gauging readiness ahead of World Cup qualifying, the match is also a chance to prove that regional recognition goes hand in hand with results on the pitch. The supporter backing Choudhury called "tremendous" could be the difference-maker in the match.
If Indonesia can meet expectations, the 2030 World Cup target may no longer be a pipe dream. However, the road there is still long and full of obstacles. Can the Garuda squad prove that Choudhury's praise is more than just empty words?
