Patrick Kluivert’s plan to take down the Socceroos

Football is often described as a “sleeping giant” within Australia. But in a global context, the real sleeping giant is just to our north – and it’s also the next obstacle between the Socceroos and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Indonesia is the world’s fourth-most populous country, and the majority of the 282 million people there are mad about the game. It is a core part of their national identity. The problem is that their passion has never been matched by their prowess.

Football is Indonesia’s national sport, but their passion has never matched their competency. Credit: Getty Images

Not since France 1938, when they competed as the Dutch East Indies, has Indonesia qualified for the World Cup. Their federation has historically been riven by corruption. Their domestic league has lurched from one crisis to the next. And the number of Indonesians who have played for top European clubs can be counted on one hand, with fingers to spare.

Players with Indonesian heritage, though? There’s Robin van Persie, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Nigel de Jong, John Heitinga, Roy Makaay, and plenty more. Belatedly, the country is tapping into this rich pipeline of talent – most of it coming from the Netherlands, home to the second-biggest Indonesian diaspora in the world.

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