John Herdman: Starting from 122nd, How High Can Indonesia's FIFA Ranking Rise?
Source: Football Association of Indonesia
The latest FIFA Ranking once again reflects the real position of the Indonesian National Team on the global football stage. In the official FIFA release announced early Tuesday, January 20, 2026, Western Indonesia Time, the Garuda Squad remains stuck at 122nd in the world, a starting point that is now a major stage for new coach, John Herdman.
The January 2026 edition ranking was published coinciding with the conclusion of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with the Senegal National Team as champion. While other countries reap leaps in achievement, Indonesia is still in the phase of building a new foundation under Herdman's leadership.
Significant changes are visible at the world elite level. The Morocco National Team broke into the world's eighth position despite losing to Senegal in the Africa Cup final.
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The Atlas Lions jumped from 11th place to 8th and became Africa's sole representative in the top 10 of the FIFA Ranking.
This position even places Morocco above two European giants, Belgium and Germany, while also marking their return to the top 10 for the first time since April 1998.
Success in the continental tournament also had a major impact for Senegal. The 2025 Africa Cup champions soared seven places from 19th position to 12th in the world.
Meanwhile, the Spanish National Team remains firmly at the top of the FIFA ranking, ahead of Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, and the Netherlands.
Amidst this global dynamic, the Indonesian National Team saw no change in position and remains ranked 122nd.
Garuda sits just below Malaysia at 121st. Thailand remains the ASEAN team with the highest ranking at 96th, while Vietnam dropped one level from 107th to 108th.
This ranking marks the starting point of a long journey. The former Canada coach faces the task of lifting Indonesia's competitiveness from the lower ranks of World Football towards a more competitive level, aligned with the major agenda leading to the World Cup year.
With an increasingly packed international calendar and tight regional challenges, the 122nd position serves as a reminder that transforming the Indonesian National Team requires process, consistency, and tangible results on the field.
This Latest FIFA Ranking becomes the starting line of a new era under the command of John Herdman.
