Indonesia's 31-Place FIFA Ranking Surge: A Mirror of Progress or a Trap of Collective Memory?

The empty stands still echo with songs, because memory is also a kind of supporter. I remember those afternoons standing in the corridors of Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, listening to the roar of 80,000 hearts beating in unison. Indonesian football has never lacked passion, but their story has always been a loop: expectations rise, then shatter in tears. Today, as the FIFA rankings announced position 118, I hear the familiar whisper of optimism again. But at 69, I have learned that the world keeps running faster than me, yet memory always stands still. And the memory of Southeast Asian football's previous 'rises' reminds me: rankings are just a mirror, while the true substance of a team lies in what they do on the pitch, not on the scoreboard. The journey from 149th to 118th is not a miraculous leap but a mosaic assembled from three coaches with three different philosophies. Shin Tae-yong, the South Korean tactician, lifted the team from 149 to 127 in nearly two years – an impressive 22-place climb. Patrick Kluivert, the Dutch legend, took over and improved only 5 more places (127 to 122) in 9 months. John Herdman, the English strategist, currently leads the team from 122 to 118 after about 7 months in charge. Three men, three styles, but the biggest question remains open: has any tactical identity truly been built, or is this just an accumulation of fortunate results against weaker opponents? I have followed Southeast Asian football for over five decades, and I recognize a pattern: FIFA rankings often lie. They do not reflect ball possession control, do not measure the ability to break down deep defensive blocks, and certainly cannot show squad depth when facing the pressure of a regional tournament. The truth is that Indonesia is entering uncharted waters. Position 118 places them among the top teams in Southeast Asia, but also puts them before an invisible wall: the world's top 100. To cross this milestone, Indonesia needs not just to beat Thailand or Vietnam, but also to defeat mid-tier Asian teams like Iraq, Uzbekistan, or even China – opponents with technical and physical foundations completely superior to the regional standard. What troubles me is not the number 31, but the speed of its deceleration. Shin Tae-yong created a 22-place jump, Kluivert added only 5, and Herdman just 4. This is not a failure of the coaches, but a natural law of rankings: the higher you climb, the harder it gets. But it also reflects a harsh reality: the 'easy wins' against weaker teams have been fully exploited. From now on, every step must be paid for with genuine victories against stronger opponents – something Indonesia has never proven in this period. The story of Indonesia's rise is also the story of naturalized players. I have no official data, but based on my experience following matches, I notice a familiar pattern: Southeast Asian teams often rely on diaspora players to accelerate up the rankings. This is not wrong, but it creates a dangerous dependency. When regional tournaments take place, European clubs may not release players, or naturalized players may face fitness issues. At that moment, the true depth of the squad – properly trained domestic players – will be exposed. And that is when the mirror of rankings shatters. The FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 will be the defining test. Not because of the trophy, but because it will expose Indonesia's true technical foundation. Thailand and Vietnam, their eternal rivals, both have high-pressing styles and methodical ball circulation. Indonesia, with the constant turnover of three coaches, have they built an organized defensive system? Do they have the patience to break down deep defensive blocks? I have no answers, but I know that football never forgives lack of preparation. One thing I want to emphasize: constant coaching changes are not a sign of progress, but a symptom of an impatient footballing nation. PSSI has spent a lot of money on three foreign coaches, but their patience lasts only a few months. Shin Tae-yong was sacked after creating a 22-place jump – an achievement any team would dream of. Kluivert left after 9 months with only 5 places of improvement. This reveals an organizational culture that values immediate results over sustainable development. And in football, impatience always pays with humiliating defeats. I remember the 2026 World Cup, when I was 61, sitting in the press room in Moscow watching Mbappé dribble past 11 pressing attempts. I wrote that youth is not just speed, but the way one chooses to charge forward. Indonesia is charging forward, but the question is in which direction. If they continue to rely on wins against weak teams and naturalized players, they will hit a ceiling. If they invest in youth development, build a unified football philosophy, and stay patient with the process, they could do what no Southeast Asian team has ever done: compete on equal footing with Asia's top teams. The pitch never betrays anyone; people just forget that it also knows how to embrace. It embraces the defeated, those who gave their all, and even the dreamers. Indonesia dreams of the top 100, and I respect that dream. But I also know that empty stands still echo with songs, because memory is also a kind of supporter. And the memory of Indonesian fans about past failures will not disappear just because of a number on the rankings. They need more than that. They need a team with identity, with clear tactics, and with the ability to stand firm under pressure. My final question to PSSI and those running Indonesian football: are you building a team to climb rankings, or a team to conquer Asia? Because those two goals require completely different paths.