Revealing why the World Cup coach agreed to work in Indonesia

International media revealed the two key factors behind English coach John Herdman’s decision to take charge of Indonesia over Honduras, despite both teams missing out on the 2026 World Cup.

The reputation of John Herdman, former head coach of Canada’s national team, is becoming a focal point in Southeast Asia. Multiple sources confirm that the English strategist is about to sign a contract to coach Indonesia after two private meetings with Erick Thohir, Chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), in December.

According to Mexico’s Once Noticias, besides Indonesia, Herdman also received an offer from the Honduras Football Federation (FFH). However, the 50-year-old coach leaned towards Indonesia due to two crucial factors: a long-term contract and the attractive remuneration package offered by PSSI.

Sources indicate that if the final agreement is reached, Herdman will sign a 4-year contract running from 2026 to 2030, with a salary of about 40,000 USD per month, equivalent to 480,000 USD annually (over 8 billion Vietnamese dong). This figure far exceeds Honduras’s financial capability, a team currently rebuilding after failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Additionally, PSSI is said to have promised Herdman significant autonomy in technical matters, from player selection to developing long-term plans for Indonesian football. This is also a key difference that made him confident in the potential for long-term growth with Indonesia.

The loss of Herdman to Indonesia was described by Honduran media as “a painful blow” to their football federation, as the English coach had gained fame by leading Canada to its first World Cup appearance in 36 years at the 2022 tournament.

If the deal is completed, John Herdman will become the first English coach in history to lead the Indonesian national team, raising hopes of elevating the archipelago team to continental prominence and pursuing the dream of World Cup qualification in the near future.