Audero targets World Cup appearance after Indonesia's FIFA ASEAN Cup win
The goalkeeper also hopes youth development will help Indonesia become a team capable of challenging European opponents within 10 years.
Indonesia goalkeeper Emil Audero wants to help the national team reach the World Cup after winning the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. In comments cited from Gianlucadimarzio, he said representing Indonesia at the World Cup would be a distinctive achievement.
Audero said he was pleased to have chosen to play for Indonesia in 2025, describing his time with the team as valuable for both his personal life and professional career. Born in Indonesia to an Indonesian father and an Italian mother, he had initially declined a national-team call-up while at Inter Milan because of family matters.
He later accepted the opportunity because he wanted a different experience and to explore football beyond Europe. Audero said the intensity of Indonesian supporters' enthusiasm was difficult to convey: before the FIFA ASEAN Cup final, the team had to change hotels because so many fans approached players for photographs and autographs.
The goalkeeper expressed hope that Indonesia would keep developing football through structured youth training. He saw considerable potential, backed by strong public support, and wanted the national side to be capable of troubling European teams in 10 years.
At club level, Audero joined Rayo Vallecano from Como near the end of the summer transfer window. He said becoming the first Indonesian player to appear in the Spanish league made the new experience particularly meaningful.
