Gerard Pique Believes Indonesia Has What It Takes to Reach the World Cup

Gerard Pique has experienced the highest stage dreamed of by millions of players: winning the World Cup. The former Barcelona defender and Spanish national team icon believes that someday the Indonesian national team will qualify for the World Cup.

Indonesia failed to realize its dream of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup finals. Their captivating journey up to the fourth round of Asian zone qualification ended after defeats to Saudi Arabia and Iraq in October 2025. Nevertheless, this achievement remains historic as the first time Indonesia progressed so far in World Cup qualification.

“I know that you wanted to qualify for the World Cup, and it didn't happen this year, but I truly believe that at some point Indonesia will qualify for the World Cup,” Pique told Antara in Jakarta on Saturday.

“The potential is huge, you have more than 200 million people who are very passionate about football. I know it's important for you to compete in the World Cup; at some point, it will happen.” 

This conviction is not mere politeness. Pique speaks as a player rich in experience, a defender with nine La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, three Champions League titles, and two international titles: the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.

According to him, the path to the world stage for Indonesia is not just about courage or determination, but about long-term foundations.

“If it's done consistently, I am sure that in time, there will be an opportunity for Indonesia to play in the World Cup. That's the desire and dream of everyone in this country,” he said. 

However, Pique emphasized the importance of academies and youth player development. Investing in an early-age system will raise the level of local competition while producing a generation of players ready to compete with established Asian nations.

With a large population, a massive football fanbase, and the historic journey in the 2026 qualifiers, Indonesia is on a clearer path than ever before.