Hello reader,

I dare say most Indonesians, football fan or otherwise, woke up with a smile this morning. For such a football-obsessed nation, we are deprived of any meaningful achievements by the men’s national team on the world stage. But there is reason to be cautiously optimistic after Indonesia made it more than halfway through the Asian section of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

Can the Garuda boys go all the way and book a trip to the US/Canada/Mexico in two years’ time? Well, the next stages are going to be a whole lot tougher, and we’ll explore Indonesia’s chances further down this email.

Let’s kick things off.

Cheers,

Andra

Law/Politics

• For the first time in 31 years, the once-mighty United Development Party (PPP) will not have a single seat at the House of Parliament (DPR) for the 2024-29 period. The Islamic party secured a measly 3.87% of the votes nationally in February’s legislative election, just below the 4% threshold for a seat at DPR. The Constitutional Court (MK) rejected all of PPP’s challenges against the election results, putting the nail in their coffin for at least five years.

• The National Awakening Party (PKB) has officially endorsed Anies Baswedan as their candidate for the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial election. Anies has not definitively indicated whether or not he would run for a post he once held, but he may also count on the support of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), who seem increasingly open to the idea of partnering with a former rival.

• Senior Gerindra politician Permadi has passed away, leaving the party and his supporters in mourning. Permadi was a prominent figure in Indonesian politics, having served in DPR and being a founding member of the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI).

• Not on the Jakarta Metro Police’s watch. Authorities have apprehended a man who allegedly swiped 18 luxury timepieces worth IDR 14 billion from a store in PIK 2, Tangerang Regency on Saturday. The suspect may be looking at a lengthy time in prison.

Business/Economy

• ByteDance has laid off 450 TikTok employees in Indonesia following TikTok Shop’s merger with Tokopedia in January. Despite the layoffs, the merger is expected to bolster TikTok's e-commerce capabilities, leveraging Tokopedia's robust platform to create a more competitive market presence.

• Real estate giant Agung Podomoro has put pen to paper on a deal to build one of Nusantara’s first residential areas. The agreement, announced on June 10, marks a significant step in the construction of the ambitious new capital city and signifies a broader plan involving public-private partnerships to ensure comprehensive infrastructure development.

• Local telcos are going to be livid. Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia spilled yesterday that Starlink's investment in Indonesia amounted to just IDR 30 billion and involved only three employees. The revelation came as DPR is grilling the government over Starlink’s swift recent entry to Indonesia and concerns about unfair business practices.

• Super celeb Raffi Ahmad has stepped away from his ambitious beach club project in Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta, citing increasing environmental concerns and pushback from local communities. The project, intended to span 10 hectares, was criticized by environmental groups for potentially exacerbating drought conditions in the area. Gunungkidul, known for its karst landscapes crucial for water absorption, faces significant water scarcity, and large-scale developments threaten this delicate balance.

Everything Else

The Impossible Dream

After last week’s heartbreak against Iraq, Indonesia secured its place in the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers for Asian countries by beating the Philippines 2-0 in Jakarta on Tuesday evening. Goals from Dutch-born Thom Haye and Surabaya-born Rizky Ridho were enough to send Indonesia through, bringing euphoria to the country.

Indonesia making it this far in the qualifiers — the only Southeast Asian country in the third round — is a historic achievement on its own. Anything beyond this would be considered an impossible dream. Of the 18 Asian nations in this round, the best six will automatically qualify for the World Cup. In addition, there will be two or three more spots up for grabs, to be contested in further playoff rounds.

Will Indonesia be among those eight or nine? Well, Indonesia has never qualified for the World Cup and it’s the second-lowest FIFA-ranked team in the third round. Also in the round are traditional Asian giants like Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia.

That said, the ball is round. Maybe fortune will roll in our favor.

In Other News

• From the same match, Indonesian music power couple Anang Hermansyah and Ashanty came out for some post-game tunes, only to be jeered off the pitch when they began singing their own tracks. In addition to the boos, they were drowned out by the entire stadium singing Indonesia Pusaka, as is tradition at the end of every national team match.

• A group of junior high school girls apologized after they brought the public’s wrath on themselves by mocking Palestinian struggles in a viral video. The girls filmed themselves dining at a fast food restaurant that has been a target of boycott by Indonesians over the chain’s alleged pro-Israel stance. During the meal, the girls said their food represented the blood and bones of Palestinian children.