John Herdman and New Garuda's Dream to Fly to 2030 World Cup

The new head coach of the Indonesian National Team, John Herdman, referred to his squad as the “New Garuda”, a statement marking the beginning of a new era of Indonesian Football. That statement is not just a slogan.

For Herdman, the “New Garuda” symbolizes transformation – concerning mentality, identity, and the grand ambition of bringing Indonesia to the World Cup for the first time in the 2030 edition.

That tournament holds unique historical significance. The 2030 World Cup will be the centenary edition, a global stage Herdman aims to make the ultimate goal of his long-term project with Indonesia after failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

For Herdman, the Indonesia project transcends a career challenge. He views it as a historical responsibility – reviving Garuda after the 2026 World Cup Qualification failure and focusing on new opportunities in the 2030 World Cup Qualifiers.

"This is a huge responsibility. I enjoy seeing people grow as mentors, ready to reach the next level. Hopefully, my legacy will be helping facilitate that process. This is the New Garuda," Herdman stated on the Indonesian National Team's YouTube Channel.

Indonesia becomes the fifth senior team Herdman has managed, following New Zealand's women's national team, Canada's women's national team, Canada's men's national team, and MLS club Toronto FC. His track record has led many to consider him the ideal figure to lead Indonesian football's long-term project.

He guided New Zealand's women's team to the 2007 and 2011 Women's World Cups, then led Canada as host of the 2015 Women's World Cup. 

His most iconic achievement was taking Canada's men's team to the 2022 World Cup, led by Golden Generation star Alphonso Davies, ending a 36-year wait since their 1986 debut.

During last week's Jakarta press conference, Herdman revealed his first step wasn't tactical discussions but listening. 

He sought to understand Jay Idzes and his teammates' stories about the pain, disappointment, and lessons from failing to reach the 2026 World Cup.

His approach is simple yet decisive: listen, comprehend, then act. The goal is to prevent Indonesia from repeating the same story when entering the 2030 World Cup Qualifiers.

"There are 280 million people who deserve to be at the highest level of World Football. Their desire is palpable in every video I watch. For the first time, I feel that emotional responsibility," he expressed.

For Herdman, this project extends beyond Match Results. It embodies a nation's emotional burden and millions of eyes yearning for one historic moment.

"This is a monumental opportunity for this country. As a leader, I'm prepared to shoulder that burden," Herdman emphasized.

With ample time until 2030 and experience breaking historical barriers for other nations, Herdman now carries Indonesian Football's greatest dream: making Garuda soar onto the world's highest stage.