FIFA Selects Jakarta as Regional Headquarters for Southeast and East Asia—Here’s What That Means for Football in the Region

By Evolution Staff • June 23, 2025

Jakarta has taken a giant leap onto the global football stage. FIFA has formally named Indonesia’s capital city as its regional operations hub for Southeast Asia and East Asia, following a landmark agreement with the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI).

What the Jakarta Hub Will Do

• Serve as a FIFA Regional Office coordinating across 21 national football federations
  
• Streamline regional football governance, development programs, and talent scouting
  
• Support youth academies and infrastructure projects through direct FIFA oversight
  
• Act as an administrative and logistical base for upcoming tournaments and cross-border events
  

PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir, who has championed football reform in Indonesia, met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino to finalize the Host Country Agreement. The deal was signed just weeks after the 2025 FIFA Executive Football Summit in Miami.

Why Jakarta?

• Strategic Location: Central to the growing Southeast and East Asian football markets
  
• Proven Commitment: Indonesia has hosted the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup and invested in stadium revamps across Java and Sumatra
  
• Diplomatic Reach: Jakarta’s growing role as a soft power hub for ASEAN and beyond
  
• Facilities: The new Jakarta International Stadium and GBK Sport Complex offer FIFA-ready infrastructure
  

Regional Impact

The FIFA Jakarta Hub will:

• Boost regional tournament hosting opportunities for ASEAN nations
  
• Enable real-time coordination of FIFA’s grassroots development programs
  
• Provide direct support for regional player welfare, governance, and gender equity in sport
  
• Allow FIFA to deploy resources faster for disaster relief, anti-corruption efforts, and fan engagement initiatives in the region
  

What It Means for Indonesia

• Puts Indonesia at the heart of regional football diplomacy
  
• Strengthens the case for future World Cup co-hosting bids
  
• Elevates local leagues like Liga 1 into FIFA’s global development ecosystem
  
• Creates pathways for Indonesian players and officials to access higher roles in international football governance
  

Conclusion

FIFA’s decision to base its Southeast and East Asia operations in Jakarta is more than a nod of approval—it’s a statement of intent. As football’s center of gravity shifts eastward, Jakarta now stands as a vital engine of the sport’s future in one of its fastest-growing territories.

Additional References:

• FIFA Official Communications (@fifaworldcup)
  
• Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) (@pssi__official)
  
• Indonesia Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs (@kemenpora_ri)
  
• Suara Media Network (@suaraofficial)
  
• Seasia News Sports Desk (@seasia.news)