Erick Thohir Targets Indonesia in FIFA Top 100, Jordan Friendly Hinges on Middle East Situation
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- PSSI mencanangkan target jangka pendek menembus peringkat 100 dunia sebagai batu loncatan menuju Piala Dunia 2030.
- Rencana laga tandang melawan Yordania pada November 2026 masih menggantung akibat eskalasi keamanan di kawasan Timur Tengah.
- Selama era John Herdman, skuad Garuda lebih banyak bermain di kandang, sehingga pengalaman away dianggap krusial untuk mengasah mental bertanding.
PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir stressed that the Indonesia national team must quickly break into the FIFA top 100 as a prerequisite for reaching the world's most prestigious football competition. Currently, the Garuda squad sits at No. 116 after winning the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, and that target is the main focus in drawing up the international match agenda.
In a statement at Surakarta City Hall on Monday (12/10/2026), Erick said the ranking improvement is not merely an empty ambition. He argued that statistics show a direct correlation between ranking position and the chance to appear at the World Cup. "We want to break into the FIFA top 100 first. From the data, to be able to talk about the World Cup, our ranking must keep rising. We will maximize every FIFA Matchday to collect as many points as possible," he said.
The overseas friendly agenda is one of the key strategies. Jordan, the world's No. 72 team, has been mentioned as a prospective opponent at Amman International Stadium on 13 November 2026. However, the plan is not final because of the heating-up security situation in the Middle East. A missile attack at Riyadh International Airport, Saudi Arabia, which killed 12 people and injured more than 300 others, is a serious consideration.
Erick considers experience playing away to be crucial for building the squad's resilience. So far, of 12 matches in coach John Herdman's era, ten were held in Indonesia. Only two were away, against Timor Leste and Singapore at the 2026 AFF Cup. "The 2030 World Cup qualifiers start next September. So the ranking is very important. The November match is away, so the team gets used to playing well both at home and away," he explained.
"Coach John Herdman is quite bold and if possible, we want to face higher-ranked opponents," said Erick Thohir.
Even so, Erick does not want to risk the safety of players and coaches. He said he is still waiting for developments in the Middle East and is open to revising the friendly location. "We wait, because there is a fairly worrying obstacle in the Middle East. The safety of all players and coaches is the most important thing. There are several options, whether to stay in the Middle East or revise it," he stressed.
This decision will affect Indonesia's long-term preparations. If the friendly against Jordan is cancelled, PSSI must find a replacement opponent of equal quality to maintain the momentum of ranking improvement. Conversely, if the match goes ahead, it could be a mental test for young players such as Rizky Ridho and Nadeo Argawinata, who have just enjoyed success at regional level.
Going forward, Indonesian football fans are waiting to see whether PSSI can balance ranking ambition with the security factor. With the 2030 World Cup qualifiers drawing closer, every decision will shape the Garuda's path. Can Indonesia break into the top 100 before the qualifiers begin?
