Indonesia Closes Door on Further Naturalizations for 2026 World Cup Qualifying Push
Jakarta, Indonesia – Hopes of bolstering the Indonesian national team with a wave of European-based stars ahead of the crucial fourth round of 2026 World Cup qualifying have been dashed. PSSI (Football Association of Indonesia) chairman Erick Thohir has confirmed the naturalization program for players of Indonesian descent is now officially closed for this stage of qualification.
The decision comes following the prosperous integration of young talents Mauro Zijlstra and miliano Jonathans into the Garuda squad. Both players, of Dutch-Indonesian heritage, have been legally cleared to represent Indonesia, filling key gaps previously identified within the team.
“We believe these additions address our immediate needs,” stated Thohir, signaling a shift in strategy. “we’ve focused on strengthening the squad through a combination of local talent and diaspora players already competing in top European and American leagues.”
The inclusion of Zijlstra and Jonathans is seen as a critically important step forward, effectively completing the roster across moast positions. Further enhancing the team’s depth is the emergence of new players like Adrian Wibowo, a 22-year-old midfielder born to Indonesian parents who grew up in the United States.
While the prospect of adding further high-profile names was enticing to fans, the PSSI appears confident in the current composition of the national team as it prepares for the challenges ahead in the 2026 Asian Zone World Cup qualifiers. The focus now shifts to maximizing the potential of the existing squad and building momentum for a historic qualification bid.
Image: Miliano Jonathans and Mauro Zijlstra (Source: TVOneNEWS.COM – Taufik Hidayat)
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