President Prabowo Subianto's wish for the Indonesian National Team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup finals has sparked deep discussions regarding the determining factors of national sporting achievement. From an industrial economics perspective, achievements on the pitch do not stand alone, but rely on the foundation of economic prosperity and the overall quality of human development.
A scientific approach to understanding this phenomenon can refer to the Structure-Conduct-Performance (SCP) paradigm commonly used in industrial economics. In the context of the sports industry, the 'structure' component includes the quality of regulations and league competitions; 'conduct' relates to youth development and the application of sport science; while 'performance' is directly reflected in the national team's achievements on the global stage.
Data from countries participating in the World Cup knockout stages shows a strong dominance of G7 and G20 member countries. Countries with high Gross Domestic Product (GDP) have greater fiscal capacity to invest in advanced sports infrastructure, fund youth academies, and manage financially healthy professional leagues.
In addition to economic factors, public literacy rates measured through international indicators such as PISA, TIMSS, and PIRLS also show a significant correlation. Countries that dominate the knockout stages generally have strong basic education systems, which indirectly shape athletes with critical thinking skills, high discipline, and tactical intelligence on the pitch.
Although there are some exceptions where low-income countries manage to reach the knockout phase thanks to natural talent, long-term sustainability of achievement remains dominated by established economies. This proves that producing a resilient national team requires structured ecosystem planning and long-term investment, rather than just relying on instant talent.
For the Southeast Asian region, particularly Indonesia, the discourse of co-hosting a future World Cup can be a good momentum for acceleration. However, this great ambition must be accompanied by inclusive economic growth and an upgrade in the quality of national education, so that Indonesia is not only successful as a host but also capable of competing at the highest global level.
