Naturalized players disappoint, Indonesia loses out in SEA Games gold medal race with U.23 Vietnam?

The failure of Indonesia's naturalized players to qualify for the 2026 World Cup has left the football community in a state of dismay. The next important thing is whether Indonesia will continue to pursue its naturalization policy for the 33rd SEA Games.

Indonesia's disastrous defeat in World Cup qualifying

In the list of 23 Indonesian players participating in the 4th qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia, against Saudi Arabia on the morning of October 10 and against Iraq on the morning of October 12 (Vietnam time), there are up to... 19 naturalized players. This reflects that Indonesian football in recent times has depended almost entirely on foreign-born players.

Naturalized Indonesian players are facing great pressure

Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang

However, with this group of naturalized players, the Indonesian team still failed in its goal of qualifying for the World Cup, leading to the dismissal of coach Patrick Kluivert (Netherlands) on October 16. After Mr. Kluivert left, many people predicted that the group of Dutch players (accounting for 16 out of 19 naturalized players of Indonesia) would also scatter.

Not to mention the psychology of the Indonesian football community and fans is being greatly affected. They are gradually losing faith in the country's football policy of using naturalized players. Therefore, the failure of the Indonesian national team in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers can affect the Indonesian U.23 team at the 33rd SEA Games, taking place in December this year.

Unanswered questions of Indonesian youth football

Indonesia had hoped for the presence of naturalized players in the age group of 23 such as center back Dion Markx (Dutch origin, 1.87 m tall), left back Tim Geypens (Dutch origin, 1.82 m), midfielder Ivar Jenner (Dutch origin, 1.86 m), striker Jens Raven (Dutch origin, 1.89 m), Rafael Struick (Dutch origin, 1.85 m)... Indonesia hoped that these naturalized players would increase the strength of the young team of the archipelago country at the 33rd SEA Games.

U.23 Indonesia often loses to U.23 Vietnam recently.

Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang

But now, that expectation has diminished, after the failure of naturalized players in the national team. The naturalized Indonesian players from the Netherlands, aged 23, may also have lost confidence, after their European-born seniors failed in Indonesian football.

The wave of protests against the massive use of naturalized players has begun to reappear in Indonesia. The press and football world of this country want their teams to give more opportunities to players who have grown up in the country. Therefore, the Indonesian U.23 team is at a crossroads: Continue to give trust to naturalized players, be ready to face public pressure, or give all opportunities to pure domestic players?

The problem is, if they use naturalized players, U.23 Indonesia may have psychological problems, because any failure that happens from now on with naturalized players is likely to make Indonesian public opinion more dissatisfied with this policy in the archipelago country. And if U.23 Indonesia only uses domestic players, their young domestic squad will often lose to U.23 Vietnam in the most recent international tournaments.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cau-thu-nhap-tich-gay-that-vong-indonesia-that-the-dua-hcv-sea-games-voi-u23-viet-nam-185251016191629964.htm