The inclusion of teenage striker Adrian Wibowo in Los Angeles FC’s squad for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup marks a historic moment not just for Indonesian football, but for Southeast Asia as a whole.
Although Wibowo has yet to officially obtain Indonesian citizenship, his eligibility stems from his father, who hails from Surabaya, Indonesia. Should the 19-year-old make an appearance during the tournament, he would become the first Indonesian and first Southeast Asian player to feature in the prestigious competition—a landmark achievement for the region.
A product of the U.S. soccer development system, Wibowo previously represented the United States U-17 national team, but has since declared his interest in switching allegiance to Indonesia through naturalization. If successful, he could follow in the footsteps of FC Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes, another Major League Soccer talent who has joined Timnas Garuda via the same route.
Wibowo was named on the bench during LAFC’s opening match against Chelsea, a 2–0 defeat at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on June 16. While he did not make an appearance, his presence in the squad is already generating significant buzz among Indonesian and Southeast Asian football fans.
LAFC will next face Esperance de Tunis of Tunisia on June 20 at Geodis Park in Nashville, followed by a showdown with Brazilian giants Flamengo on June 24 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. Although Wibowo is currently behind seasoned veterans like World Cup winner Olivier Giroud and Gabonese forward Denis Bouanga in the pecking order, opportunities may arise in the coming matches—especially if head coach Steve Cherundolo opts to rotate his squad.
For Wibowo, even a brief appearance would not only be a personal milestone but a powerful symbol of Southeast Asia’s growing presence on the global football stage.