europe.chinadaily.com.cn
Indonesia's Ambitious Plan to Return to the World Cup
Indonesian soccer chairman Erick Thohir aims to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and reach the top 50 in FIFA rankings by 2045, addressing hooliganism and match-fixing while leveraging the diaspora and economic growth.
- How does Indonesia's soccer development strategy connect to its broader economic goals, and what are the challenges in achieving both?
- Thohir's strategy combines national pride with economic growth, linking football success to Indonesia's broader development goals. Leveraging the Indonesian diaspora's talent and partnering with the Japanese federation to improve refereeing are key steps. The success hinges on overcoming challenges like hooliganism and match-fixing, endemic problems within Indonesian soccer.
- What is Indonesia's plan to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and improve its global football standing, and what are the immediate implications?
- Indonesia, under the leadership of Erick Thohir, aims to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and improve its FIFA ranking to the top 50 by 2045. This involves attracting diaspora players and improving domestic leagues, tackling issues like hooliganism and match-fixing. The plan includes economic development, aiming for a per capita GDP of $27,000-$30,000 by 2045.
- What are the long-term implications of Indonesia's approach to football development, considering the persistent problems within the domestic league, and what critical factors will determine its success?
- Indonesia's ambitious soccer plan faces significant hurdles. While attracting diaspora players has yielded positive results, addressing deeply rooted issues like hooliganism and match-fixing requires sustained effort. Success will depend on effective collaboration between the government, private sector, and the PSSI to implement the long-term plan and achieve both economic and sporting goals. The 2026 World Cup qualification will serve as a crucial benchmark for the plan's effectiveness.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The narrative is framed around Erick Thohir's personal ambition and leadership, emphasizing his role in improving Indonesian soccer. While his contributions are significant, this framing might overshadow other crucial factors contributing to the national team's progress. The headline and opening sentences immediately establish Thohir as the central figure, potentially influencing the reader's perception of the story's focus.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and objective. However, phrases like "sleeping giants" and descriptions of Indonesia's soccer as having "endemic problems" carry subtle connotations that could be replaced with more neutral language.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on Erick Thohir's ambitions and strategies but omits discussion of challenges faced by other Southeast Asian nations in their pursuit of World Cup qualification. A comparative analysis could provide a richer context. Furthermore, while hooliganism and match-fixing are mentioned, the depth of analysis on these issues could be improved by including specific examples, statistics, and proposed solutions beyond Thohir's brief statements. The article also doesn't address the broader socio-economic factors influencing Indonesian soccer's development.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat simplistic view of Indonesia's soccer improvement by primarily focusing on Thohir's vision and initiatives, without fully acknowledging other potential paths or strategies. While the article mentions government, private sector, and federation involvement, it lacks a discussion of alternative approaches or challenges to this top-down approach.
Gender Bias
The article primarily focuses on Erick Thohir, a male figure, and doesn't offer insights into the role or perspectives of women in Indonesian soccer. The lack of female voices or perspectives could be considered a bias by omission.
Sustainable Development Goals
Improving Indonesia's football can contribute to poverty reduction by creating jobs and boosting the economy. Thohir's plan to improve the national team and increase GDP per capita shows a direct link between economic growth and poverty alleviation.