Indonesia national team to enter 2030 World Cup qualifiers at second round

The Indonesia national football team is set to begin its 2030 FIFA World Cup qualification journey in the Asian zone starting directly from the second round. This provides a strategic advantage, as the team will bypass the first round of competition. The official drawing for the Asian zone qualification is scheduled to take place on December 15, 2026.

To bolster the squad for this campaign, there is significant interest in integrating diaspora players into the team under coach John Herdman. One prominent candidate identified is Pascal Struijk, a 26-year-old defender currently playing in the Premier League for Brighton. Struijk, who has maternal Indonesian heritage, is considered eligible to represent the national team, provided administrative and citizenship processes are completed.