McDonald's Indonesia hosts FIFA-themed football clinics for young players

share on

twitter /
facebook /
linkedin /
- email
- telegram
- whatsapp
- wechat
- pinterest
- line
- snapchat
- reddit

McDonald's Indonesia is strengthening its investment in grassroots sports by giving 200 children aged between eight and 12 the opportunity to train directly under Indonesia national football coach Indra Sjafri, as part of its wider campaign celebrating the FIFA World Cup and the brand’s 35th anniversary in the country.

The McDonald's Football Clinic forms part of the FIFA World Cup Goes to McDonald's campaign and aims to channel Indonesia's growing enthusiasm for football into meaningful youth development opportunities. The programme debuted in Jakarta on 12 July with professional footballer Rio Fahmi before continuing in Bandung on 19 July alongside Persib Bandung legend Atep.

Reflecting the campaign's "Sepenuhnya Indonesia" ("Fully Indonesian") spirit, the initiative also focused on inclusion, with 40 children from underserved communities invited to participate free of charge. McDonald's Indonesia also equipped all 200 participants across both cities with new jerseys and football boots to encourage their continued development.

Don't miss: The FIFA World Cup is coming to McDonald's, and Grimace made the squad

Caroline Kurniadjaja, associate director of marketing at McDonald's Indonesia, said the programme was designed to make high-quality football coaching more accessible while nurturing confidence and character among young Indonesians.

"Through the McDonald's Football Clinic, we hope these young talents will not only gain high-quality training experience, but also develop into individuals with strong character, confidence and discipline, and the courage to pursue their dreams," she said.

The initiative comes amid sustained public interest in football. McDonald's Indonesia cited a March 2026 Populix survey showing that 90% of Gen Z and Millennials are interested in field sports, with football ranking among the country's most popular sporting activities. The brand hopes to extend that enthusiasm to younger generations by providing structured coaching from an early age.

The 70-minute training sessions were designed by Sjafri and combined technical drills with character-building exercises. Participants rotated through coaching stations covering passing, shooting through small-sided games, and shielding, enabling children to progressively develop technical skills while learning teamwork and decision-making.

Sjafri emphasised that youth coaching should be tailored to children's different stages of development. "In youth development, every child progresses at a different pace, so training methods need to be tailored accordingly."

Alongside practical coaching, participants heard first-hand accounts from professional players about their journeys into elite football. Rio Fahmi joined the Jakarta clinic, while Atep shared his experiences with children in Bandung.

Among the participants was Purnama, captain of Youth Aurasic Bandung, who has trained since the age of eight on a modest pitch beside his parents' food stall. His father, Heri Mulyana, described the experience as an opportunity the family had never imagined: "With our family's financial circumstances being limited, seeing Purnama train directly under Coach Indra Sjafri was an invaluable experience we never thought possible."

The football clinic builds on more than a decade of McDonald's Indonesia's investment in youth sport. Previous initiatives have included sending Indonesian children to international football tournaments as Player Escorts in 2014 and 2018, launching the McDonald's Liga Ayo inter-school football competition in 2023, and renovating 44 school sports facilities across 12 provinces in 2025.

Discover what's next in Indonesia's fast-moving digital landscape at DMA Indonesia 2026 on 13 October in Jakarta, where marketing leaders will explore how AI, creator ecosystems, social commerce, and omnichannel strategies are reshaping customer engagement and business growth.

share on