Indonesia, Where 69% of the Population Are Soccer Fans
- Publish
- 2025/08/02
- Update
- 2025/08/16
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Indonesia and Soccer: By the Numbers
69% of Indonesians Are Soccer Fans
According to a survey by Nielsen, 69% of Indonesians identify as soccer fans, ranking third in Asia after Vietnam and the UAE. In comparison, only 29% of Japanese people consider themselves soccer fans.
Watching soccer is one of the most popular pastimes in Indonesia. Many people regularly watch domestic and European league matches on TV. During international tournaments, public viewing events are held at event venues and restaurants. Sports news on TV and the internet—already heavily focused on soccer—becomes even more dominated by soccer coverage during such times.
Reference: KOMPAS.com “Suporter Sepak Bola Indonesia Peringkat 3 Paling Banyak di Asia”
Indonesia Ranks 149th in FIFA but Wins Southeast Asian Games
Indonesia recently made headlines with a significant achievement.
At the 2023 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) held in Cambodia this May, the Indonesian men’s national soccer team defeated powerhouse Thailand in the finals to claim the gold medal. This victory marked Indonesia’s first SEA Games championship in 32 years, since the 1991 Manila Games.
Among ASEAN nations, Thailand and Vietnam have traditionally dominated in soccer, maintaining FIFA rankings in the 90s and 110s respectively since 2019. Although Indonesia still trails in ranking, it has improved steadily—from 173rd in 2019 to 149th in 2023—and is expected to continue developing its performance.
Reference: Indonesiabaik.id “Peringkat Sepak Bola Negara ASEAN”
Precautions when conducting an on-site inspection in Indonesia
Some visitors consider, "My primary purpose is to conduct maintenance work at the factory, but the visa application process appears cumbersome. I will simply enter on a Visa on Arrival (VOA) and carry out the work discreetly."
However, there have been numerous cases where entering without the appropriate visa for the intended activities has resulted in significant legal and operational issues. It is therefore strongly advised to obtain the correct visa prior to travel.
Here are the types of visas and their purposes.
Indonesia and Soccer: As Seen in Videos
Friendly Match: Indonesia vs. Argentina
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On June 19, shortly after the excitement of the SEA Games victory, a friendly match between the Indonesian national team and Argentina took place at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta.
When tickets went on sale, all 60,000 seats sold out within five minutes.
Despite the rainy weather and the absence of Lionel Messi, Indonesia’s passionate fans were undeterred. For Argentina, this match marked their most highly attended away game since winning the 2022 World Cup. The final score was 0-2 in favor of Argentina.
New Training Center for Indonesia’s Football Association
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Indonesia has announced plans to build a new training center for PSSI (the Indonesian Football Association) in East Kalimantan, where the new capital city “Nusantara” is under construction.
The video shows President Joko Widodo (in a white shirt) and PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir (in a black shirt) inspecting the proposed construction site. Erick stated that preparations are complete and construction could begin immediately.
The training center is expected to be completed within one year so that the national team can use it for the AFF Cup scheduled for the end of 2024. Part of the construction cost will be covered by FIFA.
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For Companies Interested in Market Research in Indonesia
It can be difficult to grasp which sports and forms of entertainment are popular in Indonesia and how they influence the market—especially from abroad.
If your company is considering selling products in Indonesia, conducting market research is a logical first step.
With our online market research service, you can reach targeted respondents from our panel of 110,000 Indonesians and hear their unfiltered opinions.
Please feel free to contact us for more information.
