According to information from PSSI, Herdman will sign a 2+2 year contract, starting in 2026 with a basic two-year term, with an option to extend for two more years, potentially lasting until 2030.

Under this contract, Herdman will lead the Indonesia national team at least until the end of PSSI President Erick Thohir's term in 2027. He will also concurrently serve as the coach of the Indonesia U23 team, to develop and integrate young players into the national team.

Herdman reportedly received interest from the Football Federation of Honduras (FFH). However, the 50-year-old tactician chose Indonesia due to two key factors: a long-term contract and a monthly salary of USD 40,000, equivalent to USD 480,000 annually.

Coach John Herdman during a Canada national team press conference at the 2022 World Cup on 26/11/2022. *Photo: Reuters*

According to Indonesian football expert Ronny Pangemanan, Herdman's overall evaluation will be based on performance at the 2027 Asian Cup, and he will not be dismissed in 2026, regardless of results. "The 2027 Asian Cup will be a crucial benchmark. Herdman needs to guide the team to the knockout stages and improve on previous coaches' performances, but he will not be dismissed mid-term," Pangemanan stated.

Meanwhile, PSSI has set a target for the Indonesia national team to reach the quarter-finals of the 2027 Asian Cup. Arya Sinulingga, a member of the PSSI Executive Committee, said: "The goal is to reach the top 8. This is an opportunity for Herdman to apply his experience leading Canada to the 2022 World Cup to elevate Indonesia."

In their most recent appearance at the 2023 Asian Cup, Indonesia was eliminated in the round of 16 by Australia. However, with an aggressive naturalization campaign, the team has shown significant progress, reaching the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Asia.

Arya also highlighted the 0-1 loss to Iraq in the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers as a positive sign. "Despite the loss, Indonesia showed considerable improvement compared to previous matches. This provides a basis for working towards the 2027 Asian Cup goal," he confidently stated.

Herdman is highly regarded for his pivotal contributions to Canadian football. He is the first coach in history to lead both the women's and men's national teams of the same nation to World Cup qualification.

Between 2011 and 2018, Herdman coached the Canada women's national team, leading them to win two consecutive Olympic bronze medals (2012, 2016) and reach the quarter-finals of the 2015 World Cup. Subsequently, he transitioned to coach the Canada men's national team, making a significant impact by guiding them back to the World Cup after a 36-year absence, at Qatar 2022.

Herdman is credited with reshaping the culture of the Canada national team, contributing to elevating the nation's football image both domestically and internationally, and laying important groundwork for Canadian football before the country co-hosts the 2026 World Cup. He previously served as head coach for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer (MLS) from 2023 to 2024, before accepting the offer to lead the Indonesia national team.

Hong Duy (according to Bola)