FC Dallas Goalkeeper Maarten Paes Can't Wait To Defend The Indonesian National Team

JAKARTA - The goalkeeper belonging to the United States Major League Soccer (MLS) club FC Dallas, Maarten Paes admitted that he could not wait to immediately defend the Indonesian national team following the official status of Indonesian citizenship he was supporting.

The 25-year goalkeeper officially became an Indonesian citizen (WNI) after completing taking the oath to become an Indonesian citizen at the Regional Office (Kanwil) of the DKI Jakarta Ministry of Law and Human Rights in East Jakarta (Jaktim) on Tuesday 30 April

"I am very proud. This is a big (historic) moment for me. A happy moment to share with the Indonesian people, I am very proud and impatient to start playing (with the Indonesian national team)," said Maarten, quoted from the official PSSI website, Wednesday, May 1, which was confiscated by Antara.

Maarten has a great chance to strengthen Indonesia in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers for the second round of Asia against Iraq on June 6 and the Philippines on June 12 at home.

However, for about a month towards the final two matches of the 2026 World Cup second round, he had to meet several requirements to be able to appear for the Red and White, one of which was waiting for the results of the trial at the Sports Arbitration Court (CAS) because Maarten had defended the Dutch U-21 national team in the 2021 U-21 European Cup when he was 22 years old.

"Everything is clear for June (World Cup Qualification 2026). I think this nation deserves to be in the World Cup, and that is my main target, and plays as much as possible," said the 1.92-meter-high goalkeeper.

"As well as having an impact (for the national team) on and off the field. Because I also want to be an example (match) for the younger generation," he added.

Furthermore, on the same occasion, Maarten also commented on the Indonesian football culture, which is very fanatical in society.

He took the example of the fanaticism of the Indonesian people when he watched Garuda Muda at the 2024 Qatar U-23 Asian Cup age group which will now play a third-placed race against Iraq to get an automatic ticket to play at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"The fans in Indonesia are extraordinary. They are the most loyal people I know, and they are passionate people. You can see, in the current U-23 Asian Cup, how they provide support to the national team, even outside the stadium," he said.

Maarten was the goalkeeper born in Nijmegen, Netherlands, on May 14, 1998. He had Indonesian blood from his grandmother who was born in Pare, Kediri, East Java on March 20, 1940.