The Battle of Interests: Among Indonesian Youth
Indonesia has witnessed a surge in the popularity of esports, while traditional football has also experienced a recent viral spike. The rise of talented esports athletes are making their mark on the global stage while on the opposant side the current achievement of the national football team are also capturing the hearts of millions.
This leaves us with an interesting question. Which is considered more inspiring to young Indonesians today, the digital battleground of esports or the green field of soccer? This article explores the captivating battle of interests between these two thrilling worlds through the eyes of Indonesia’s Generation Z.
Esports: A Growing Social Phenomenon but Limited as a Career Aspiration
Esports has become a significant cultural phenomenon in Indonesia, driven by the increasing accessibility of high-speed internet and the widespread use of smartphones. Major titles such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang dominate the esports landscape, attracting millions of viewers and participants of young Indonesia people.
However, the recent launch of Honor of Kings, a competitor to Mobile Legends, has sparked even more interest. As more players download Honor of Kings, the game is quickly gaining traction and contributing to the dynamic esports scene.
Youthlab previously published our research results on the gaming culture among young people. Playing games is no longer just a way to pass the time; it has become a social activity, leading to the term ‘Mabar’ (Main bersama), meaning ‘playing together.’ This social aspect is why many young people play games—it has become a necessity for socializing.

According to We Are Social’s findings, Indonesia is ranked third in the world for the highest number of gamers as of January 2022. The report noted that 94.5% of internet users in Indonesia played video games as of January 2022.
To accommodate the rising trend of gaming in Indonesia, various competitions have been organized by the government. Starting in 2021, esports were trialed as an exhibition event at the National Sports Week (Pekan Olahraga Nasional, PON). Finally, in 2024, for the first time, esports was officially included as a competitive sport in PON. However, this advancement is far from enough.
YouthLab’s interview sessions with young people, many do not aspire to be professional gamers for various reasons. One primary concern was the uncertainty of their future career prospects after retiring from professional play.
Another significant reason was the high level of stress. Having too much fun playing games has caused the young people we interviewed to experience stress. This stress is another reason they are reluctant to become esports athletes. Nevertheless, everyone acknowledged that they play online games; none of them abstained from gaming entirely.
What about the trend of football amidst the rise of gaming? Do young people still want to leave the comfort of their homes to go to the stadiums amidst large crowds?
Youth Passion for Football Remains High, with New Ways to Enjoy the Game
One of Indonesia’s second-division clubs in 2017, PSS Sleman, was featured in a documentary by one of the largest football YouTube channels from England, COPA90 Stories. The documentary is still available on their YouTube channel. From the video, it’s evident that many young people participated in various activities to support PSS Sleman.
This included attending the stadium, engaging in choreographed movements, and memorizing support songs for the club. They also joined fan communities, which totaled approximately 250 PSS Sleman fan communities at the time.
But what about now? Is the enthusiasm among young people for football still strong? Quoting Lewis Wiltshire, CEO of IMG’s Agency services, which accelerates the digital performance of the biggest names in sports, he stated, “The biggest misconception is that Gen Z isn’t interested in sports, including football.
Although not as many Gen Zs compared to previous generations may be going into stadiums to watch games live, they show their support and appreciation in other ways, such as engaging and sharing sports content online and consuming match content through highlights and fan channels.”
This means that the enthusiasm remains high, but the way of enjoying it has shifted. From live events to online engagement, leveraging social media and streaming platforms.
This is also confirmed by interview with Medianta Ismail, Marketing Manager of the Tangerang-based football club, Persita.He said
“The number of streaming viewers provided by Persita has seen a significant increase, reaching up to 200,000 viewers for a single match. This is still nothing compared to larger Indonesian clubs like Persija Jakarta and Persib Bandung, which attract much larger audiences.”
Young People Come to the Stadium for Entertainment
“The number of young people coming as ultras or fanatics to chant and perform choreography in the stands has decreased, but on the other hand, the number of seats in VIP and other non-stand areas has increased significantly,” added Medianta.
According to research conducted by Youthlab, we found that many young Indonesians embrace the YOLO (You Only Live Once) lifestyle. YOLO was a trending term and has become one of the most prominent youth cultures worldwide.
It often includes striving for personal fulfillment, spending on oneself, and emphasizing present happiness. Despite individuals’ efforts to improve their lives, the lack of future security in current society encourages the YOLO mindset.
Therefore, the high demand for entertainment among young people makes watching football a choice to fulfill their need for enjoyment and self-pleasure. This means that their motivation is no longer solely fanatic pride in the club as part of their identity, but just a pursuit of entertainment.
This atmosphere is enhanced by the presence of “games experience spots” commonly found at major sporting events such as the World Cup. These spots are specially set up to allow spectators to immerse themselves in the upcoming sports competition.
Complemented by mini-games or meet-and-greets with competing athletes, these spots are also popular among visitors as backdrops for their social media content.
Virality Drives Youth Enthusiasm
The Indonesian national football team has been trending recently, including the Indonesia national under-23 football team. The naturalization of foreign players who happen to be handsome has become a trending topic, boosting discussions about the national team.
Players like Rafael Struick and Justin Hubner, along with Nathan, have brought new energy to the team. These players, admired for both their skills and looks, have become idols, especially among young women. This phenomenon has given rise to the term “cegil” (crazy girls), referring to the enthusiastic female fans who fervently follow these famous players on social media.

The image above is a snapshot from a viral video showing a crowd of “cegils” surrounding Justin Hubner, with one fan pulling his arm forcefully. Social media has played a crucial role in boosting the popularity of football. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are flooded with fan pages and content dedicated to these football stars, creating a strong community of supporters.
In Esports, the same thing is happening. Its virality also drives youth enthusiasm. For instance, the recent launch of the new game Honor of Kings has sparked a wave of interest among young people. Many are trying out and reacting to the game on their social media accounts.

The image beside shows a famous Indonesian game content creator expressing his optimism that Indonesia can compete in the new release, Honor of Kings.
Another example is the victory of the Indonesian MLBB women’s team against Malaysia, which secured Indonesia’s place in the IESF 2024. The IESF World Esports Championships 2024, to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is one of the most anticipated esports competitions among fans worldwide.
The Future trend for both esport and football are sportainment
Both esports and football will continue to hold a special place in the hearts of young people. As trends evolve, football is no longer just a competition for the fanatics or the ultras. It has become entertainment for everyone. This is why the term “sportainment” has emerged. As a sportainment, anyone who can offer more than just the game itself can capture the hearts of young people.
During a recent national football team match at GBK, the organizers provided entertainment with a video look-alike feature that matched spectators’ faces with those of football players. This was shared widely on social media by the majority of participants, creating a domino effect and sparking curiosity among those who had never watched.
Similarly, in esports, live-streamed matches on certain YouTube channels open up interactive chat columns, allowing viewers to express themselves or ask questions to the casters via platforms like Saweria.
The more engaging the entertainment strategy, the more it will captivate young people, who currently prioritize short-term enjoyment.