The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has officially appointed John Herdman as the head coach of the Indonesian National Team. The announcement was made on Saturday, January 3, 2026, marking the beginning of a new era in the nation’s football journey.
As reported on the official PSSI website, the English-born coach is widely recognized as a highly experienced figure on the international stage. Herdman has not only succeeded at the men’s level but also made history with women’s teams, becoming the only coach in the world to lead both a men’s and a women’s national team from the same country to the FIFA World Cup.
PSSI stated that Herdman’s appointment is based on his proven track record, which is considered to align with the federation’s grand vision of elevating Indonesia’s football achievements at the Asian and global levels.
In women’s football, Herdman led the New Zealand national team to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2007 and 2011. He also achieved remarkable success by winning consecutive bronze medals at the Olympic Games in 2012 and 2016
His success continued when he took charge of the Canadian men’s national team. Under his leadership, Canada qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after a 36-year absence. This achievement also significantly boosted Canada’s FIFA ranking, rising from 77th to 33rd in the world.
Entering 2026, Herdman will immediately face a packed competition schedule with the Indonesian national team. The Garuda squad is set to compete in the FIFA Series at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium during the FIFA Match Day window from March 23–31, 2026.
In addition, the national team will take part in FIFA Match Day fixtures in June, September, October, and November. The highlight of the year will be Indonesia’s participation in the 2026 AFF Championship, scheduled to begin on July 25, 2026.
John Herdman’s arrival is expected to bring significant change and open new opportunities for Indonesia to compete more competitively on the international stage.
