Indonesia is considering a joint bid to host the 2042 FIFA World Cup, with Australia, New Zealand and potentially other Southeast Asian nations emerging as prospective partners, according to Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) Chairman Erick Thohir.
The proposal comes after Indonesia’s previous attempt to secure the hosting rights for the 2034 FIFA World Cup alongside Australia was unsuccessful. FIFA awarded the tournament to Saudi Arabia after it emerged as the sole candidate during the bidding process in 2024.
Speaking about Indonesia’s long-term ambitions, Erick said the country’s opportunity to host football’s biggest tournament remains open despite missing out on the 2034 edition.
“Yes, we did bid with Australia for 2034, but of course lost to Saudi Arabia,” Erick said, as quoted by BolaSport.
Joint Hosting Seen as the Most Realistic Option
Erick believes the format of the FIFA World Cup, which now features 48 participating nations, has made it increasingly challenging for a single country to host the tournament independently. As a result, joint bids involving multiple countries are becoming the preferred approach.
He noted that the upcoming tournaments demonstrate this trend. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, while the 2030 edition will involve Spain, Portugal and Morocco, alongside commemorative matches in South America.
“But with 48 countries now, I think it’s difficult for a single country to host the World Cup. We can look at the United States, which is so large that it’s partnering with Mexico and Canada. The next ones are also partnering with Portugal, Morocco, and Spain,” Erick said.
He added that Indonesia’s best chance would likely come through cooperation with neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia or Oceania.
“So, it seems like our bidding will likely be with Southeast Asia, or perhaps Oceania, Australia, and New Zealand. We’ll see,” he said.
Erick also pointed to FIFA’s regional hosting rotation as a factor influencing future bids. Following Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 2034 tournament, he believes Asia may have to wait before being considered again, making 2042 a more realistic target.
“Well, the next one is in 2038. I don’t know if Asia will have a chance then, because Saudi Arabia is finished. The next opportunity is in four years, in 2042,” said Erick.
While expressing optimism about Indonesia’s long-term hosting ambitions, Erick stressed that the immediate focus remains on strengthening the Indonesian national team’s competitiveness on the international stage.
He said improving Indonesia’s FIFA ranking would not only enhance the team’s reputation but also provide more favourable opportunities in international tournament draws and qualification pathways.
“What’s clear is that the opportunities are now more open. But again, we must also slowly improve our national team’s ranking and start climbing. A higher national ranking also provides easier access to better competition slots, as there are usually draws,” Erick explained.
