WORLD CUP DREAMS ALIVE? Indonesia Jumps 5 Spots in FIFA Rankings!

Jakarta – Football fans in Indonesia have reason to celebrate! The Indonesian national team (Timnas Indonesia) has achieved a significant milestone by climbing 5 places in the latest FIFA rankings, released on Thursday (28/11/2024). The Garuda squad now sits at 125th in the world, a commendable leap forward.

This rise in ranking is attributed to the impressive performance of Timnas Indonesia in their last two matches of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers second round. Despite suffering a heavy 0-4 defeat against Japan (11/11/2024), Shin Tae Yong as the coach and his teammates (Timnas) bounced back with a crucial 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia (19/11/2024). This positive result was the main factor driving Indonesia’s climb in the FIFA rankings.

PSSI Chairman, Erick Thohir, expressed his pride and appreciation for this achievement. “This rise in the FIFA rankings is a testament to the hard work of all elements of the team, from the players, coaches, to officials. Hopefully, this will serve as motivation to continue achieving and making Indonesia proud on the international stage,” he said in an official PSSI statement.

Erick also added that this achievement could not be separated from the extraordinary support of all Indonesian people. “Thank you to all supporters who always give their full support to the Indonesian national team. Hopefully, we can continue to give our best and achieve even higher achievements,” he added.

However, Erick also reminded the Indonesian national team not to be complacent. The journey is still long and there are many challenges ahead. “We must remain focused, continue to improve, and enhance the quality of our game to be able to compete at a higher level,” he stressed.

This rise in the FIFA rankings is certainly a breath of fresh air for Indonesian football. Hopefully, this achievement marks the beginning of Garuda’s resurgence on the world stage. (EHP/GRK)