Mauro Zijlstra Will Not Play In The 2026 U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers

JAKARTA - Prospective naturalized player for the Indonesian national team, Mauro Zijlstra, will certainly not strengthen the U-23 Indonesian national team in the 2026 U-23 Asian Cup Qualification. This was conveyed by PSSI Executive Committee (Exco) Member Arya Sinulingga.

The 2026 U-23 Asian Cup Qualification agenda will take place on September 3-9, 2025. However, at that moment Zijlstra could not be included. The reason, Arya said that the deadline for player registration had been closed.

"Mauro (Zijlstra) for the U-23 (Indonesian National Team) doesn't seem to be (included) because it's closed. Registration for H-10 must enter the AFC," said Arya Sinulingga in his statement in Jakarta, quoted Monday, August 25, 2025.

Previously, in July 2025, PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir said Zijlstra would become a new naturalization player for the Indonesian national team. However, the process is still being pursued so that it can be completed as soon as possible.

The 20-year-old player belonging to the FC Volendam club was originally projected to follow the nearest agenda of the U-23 Indonesian national team in Sidoarjo, as they struggle to win 15 available tickets (11 group winners and the four best runners-up) to the 2026 U-23 Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia in January next year.

In the qualifying round, Indonesia will host Group J. The Garuda Muda team will face three opponents, namely Laos on September 3, 2025, Macau on September 6, 2025, and South Korea on September 9, 2025.

Although he has confirmed that Zijlstra is absent from the U-23 Indonesian national team agenda, Arya has not been able to confirm the matter of the player's chance to strengthen the senior Indonesian national team on the FIFA Matchday agenda in September 2025.

"It (Zijlstra to the senior Indonesian national team) depends on Patrick Kluiver and the Indonesian national team (Indonesian national team) all," he said.

Previously, the coach of the Indonesian national team, Patrick Kluivert, had announced 27 names for the FIFA Matchday agenda in September 2025.

Kluivert calls 11 names who play in the 2025/2026 Super League, 15 players from overseas competitions, and one player who is still without a club, namely Thom Haye.