Newly appointed Indonesia coach John Herdman has set his sights firmly on qualifying for the 2030 World Cup, declaring there are “no more excuses” for the football-mad nation.

“This is going to be an exciting project,” the 50-year-old Englishman said at his first press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday. “The fans of this country deserve to see their team winning on the world stage. I will bring my passion to help take Indonesia to, hopefully, a place it’s never been before. It’s time.”

Herdman emphasized that Indonesia is “ready” for a new era in football. He takes over following the departure of Dutch legend Patrick Kluivert, who left the role after failing to guide the team to this year’s World Cup.

Indonesia’s only previous World Cup appearance came in 1938, when the country was still under Dutch colonial rule. The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) described Herdman’s appointment as “the beginning of a new era.”

Herdman brings significant international experience to the role. He led Canada’s men to the 2022 World Cup, their first appearance in 36 years, and guided Canada’s women to the quarter-finals of the 2015 Women’s World Cup, which the country hosted.

Speaking on Indonesia’s football culture, Herdman said: “This is a country of more than 280 million people, and 80-90 percent of them are football mad. They love their football. This is the place to be.”

With his proven track record and high ambitions, Herdman now faces the challenge of turning Indonesia into a serious contender on the global stage.